[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.' The event appears to aim at fostering idolization of the Kim Il-sung family while praising the achievements of veterans and promoting internal regime cohesion.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 26th, "The 7th Nationwide Veterans' Meeting will be grandly held in the capital Pyongyang to mark the 68th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (Armistice Agreement)." 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 Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un emphasized, "With self-defensive nuclear deterrence, the word 'war' will no longer exist on this land," and warned, "Anyone who dares to challenge (North Korea) will pay a heavy price." Attention is now 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' meeting participants to commend them. On that day, party secretaries Ri Il-hwan, Jeong Sang-hak, Oh Su-yong, Tae Hyong-chol, and department heads Kim Jae-ryong, Oh Il-jong, and deputy heads visited the accommodations to present participation certificates to the veterans.
Despite COVID-19, North Korea's holding of the veterans' meeting for two consecutive years seems intended to inspire loyalty among the younger generation. Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the Graduate School of North Korean Studies, analyzed, "Through the veterans' meeting, they aim to secure the legitimacy of 'Kim Il-sung's Korea' and instill a model for overcoming national crises. The strategic intent under Kim Jong-un's sole leadership system is to strengthen regime cohesion by inspiring loyalty among the younger generation through the veterans' achievements."
North Korea also put great effort into the 'idolization' of President Kim Il-sung on Victory Day.
The Rodong Sinmun published an article titled "An Unprecedented Heroic Myth in Our Nation's History and the World Revolution History," stating, "Our people, who suffered all kinds of abuse and contempt under Japanese colonial rule, only came to understand what human dignity and happiness truly are from the moment the Great Leader found the homeland for us," and emphasized, "Our people took to heart the Leader's call to respond to the enemies' barbaric invasion war with a just liberation war."
Using Victory Day as an opportunity, North Korea also reinforced internal social cohesion by emphasizing the 'spirit of martyrs' and 'patriotism.' The Rodong Sinmun, in an article titled "A Life Dedicated to Defending the Fatherland is the Most Valuable Patriotic Life," reported, "The great victory is a precious triumph our people achieved through a determined 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 stated, "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," and emphasized, "As the 68th Victory Day approaches, the number of people visiting the graves of Fatherland Liberation War martyrs continues to increase day by day."
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