[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea is holding a nationwide veterans' meeting ahead of the Armistice Agreement signing day (7.27), which is commemorated as 'Victory Day'.
Korean Central News Agency reported on the 26th, "Marking the 68th anniversary of the Fatherland Liberation War victory (Armistice Agreement), the 7th Nationwide Veterans' Meeting will be grandly held in the capital Pyongyang." This is the second consecutive year the event is held following last year.
The exact date of the meeting was not disclosed, but considering past practices, it is highly likely to take place ahead of the Armistice Agreement signing day.
At last year's veterans' meeting, North Korean General Secretary Kim Jong-un emphasized, "With self-defensive nuclear deterrence, there will be no more talk of war on this land," and warned, "If anyone dares to provoke (North Korea), they will pay a heavy price." Attention is focused on what message he will deliver this time.
The news agency also reported that on the 25th, officials from the Workers' Party Central Committee visited the accommodations of the veterans attending the meeting to commend them. On that day, party secretaries such as Ri Il-hwan, Jeong Sang-hak, Oh Su-yong, and Tae Hyong-chol, as well as department heads including Kim Jae-ryong and Oh Il-jong, and deputy heads visited the accommodations to present participation certificates to the veterans.
North Korea also intensified efforts to 'idolize' Chairman Kim Il-sung in celebration of Victory Day.
Rodong Sinmun published an article titled "An Unprecedented Heroic Myth in Our Nation's History and the World Revolutionary History," stating, "Under Japanese colonial rule, our people suffered all kinds of abuse and humiliation, but from the moment the Great Leader found the fatherland, they finally realized what human dignity and happiness truly mean," and emphasized, "Our people heeded the Leader's call to respond to the enemies' barbaric invasion war with a just liberation war from their hearts."
Using Victory Day as an opportunity, North Korea also reinforced internal social cohesion by emphasizing the 'spirit of the martyrs' and 'patriotism.' Rodong Sinmun, in an article titled 'The life dedicated to defending the fatherland is the most valuable patriotic life,' stated, "The great victory is a precious triumph our people achieved through a resolute patriotic war," and added, "The lives of the victorious generation eloquently demonstrate that a life dedicated to defending the fatherland is a noble patriotic life." It further added, "Patriotism is practical action that unhesitatingly steps forward at the call of the fatherland and a valuable life."
Another article highlighted, "Over the past eight years, more than 1.78 million people annually have visited the graves of martyrs who participated in the Fatherland Liberation War," emphasizing, "As the 68th Victory Day approaches, the number of people visiting the graves of the Fatherland Liberation War martyrs is increasing day by day."
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