[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea is intensifying the idolization of the Kim family, including Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, as Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, enters his 10th year in power.
As of the 16th, one day before the 10th anniversary, no large-scale memorial events have yet been held, but labor organizations are continuously holding events to recall Kim Jong-il's 'achievements' during his lifetime and pledge loyalty to Kim Jong-un.
According to diplomatic sources on the 16th, North Korean media have been daily reaffirming loyalty to General Secretary Kim Jong-un on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-il's death.
The Workers' Party organ, Rodong Sinmun, in a memorial editorial on the day, evaluated, "The past 10 years have been glorious days during which the entire people firmly united around General Secretary (Kim Jong-il) and held high the socialist red flag, faithfully upholding the General's ideology and cause."
It also praised the establishment of a self-reliant economic foundation and the "emergency strengthening of self-defensive national defense capabilities" during the 10 years in power.
Furthermore, it emphasized, "We will grasp self-reliance as an eternal lifeline and a powerful driving force for development, and in the near future, we will build a socialist strong nation prospering through independence and self-respect."
Additionally, as it is both the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-il and the 10th year of Kim Jong-un's rule, North Korea is highlighting that General Secretary Kim is the 'Baekdu bloodline' who continues the legacy of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
On the same day, Korean Central News Agency reported that a "pledge meeting of youth vanguards" was held in front of the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il on Mansudae Hill, attended by Party Department Director Ri Du-sung and Chairman of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League Central Committee Mun Cheol.
The agency conveyed, "It emphasized becoming fervent youth endlessly loyal to the General Secretary's ideology and leadership, thoroughly sweeping away the rotten capitalist lifestyle and resolutely crushing anti-socialist and non-socialist phenomena."
On the 14th and 15th, the Korean Federation of Trade Unions and the Agricultural Workers' Union hosted "Kim Jong-il Merit Presentation Meetings" in Pyongyang and South Hwanghae Province, respectively.
From the 15th, the Korean Art Museum opened a central art exhibition related to the 10th anniversary, displaying Korean paintings (Oriental paintings), oil paintings, and acrylic paintings idolizing Kim Jong-il.
Artworks depicting the country's significant development under General Secretary Kim Jong-un's rule, who upheld Kim Jong-il's legacy over the past 10 years, were also featured.
North Korea also publicized an international memorial atmosphere, stating that floral tributes were laid in the name of various international organizations' representative offices in North Korea, and overseas compatriots connected to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il sent flower baskets.
Experts on North Korea expect that this year's 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-il, being a significant milestone year (marked every 5 or 10 years), will see a central memorial event held in Pyongyang, as was the case during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th anniversaries.
If a central memorial or a comparable large-scale memorial event is held, General Secretary Kim is also expected to attend.
During the 9th anniversary last year, considering the COVID-19 situation, there was no commemorative event, and General Secretary Kim paid respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.
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