Jungangganbu School Students' 'Oath of Loyalty' Report
"Even in Death, Pierce the Heart with Revolutionary Belief"
On the 14th, Chosun Central TV reported that the inspection team from the Central Cadre School of the Workers' Party of Korea is conducting an inspection of Baekdusan. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Images have been released showing students, who are future elite cadres of North Korea, climbing Mount Baekdu through a snowstorm. Although ideological education using Mount Baekdu had decreased for a while due to regional travel restrictions amid the recent COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that efforts have been made to reinforce mental discipline in response to concerns about the youth generation's laxity.
On the night of the 14th, Korean Central Television reported, "The inspection team from the Central Cadre School of the Workers' Party of Korea ascended Mount Baekdu, engraving the ironclad belief of never abandoning revolutionary faith even in death into every heart." The students in the footage were seen climbing the snow-covered Mount Baekdu, leading with a red flag, and upon reaching the summit, they all shouted "Manse" (long live) together.
Student Um Gwang-hyuk said, "In this sacred revolutionary campus where the spirit of Baekdu beats, I am stepping firmly on today's inspection path, determined to deeply cherish all experiences in my heart and to be reborn anew both politically and ideologically as well as morally."
Another student, Ryu Guk-cheol, stated, "Respected General Secretary desires us to become genuine revolutionaries who unconditionally and resolutely implement the Party Central Committee's revolutionary ideology and become the essence of the Party. I will always be aware of the unique pride and self-esteem of being a student of the Central Cadre School and prepare myself to become a capable and practical cadre."
On the 14th, Chosun Central TV reported that the inspection team from the Central Cadre School of the Workers' Party of Korea is conducting an inspection of Baekdusan. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Central Cadre School of the Workers' Party, originally established as the Central Party School in June 1946 (later renamed Kim Il-sung Advanced Party School), is the highest educational institution for training and retraining Party cadres in Pyongyang. The elite students affiliated with this institution undertaking the climb of Mount Baekdu in cold weather appears to be an effort to instill strict discipline.
Earlier, on the 17th of last month, Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, visited this school and gave a lecture, stating, "If we do not vigorously carry out the work of firmly establishing the Party's ideology and leadership core, we will ultimately perish." This tightened the reins on regime cohesion.
The Party's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, also recently emphasized in an article, "No matter how good a person's background or family environment is, if they are not continuously educated and controlled, they can become corrupted," thereby cracking down on the discipline of the youth.
Meanwhile, Mount Baekdu, the destination of this inspection, is the symbol of Chairman Kim Il-sung's anti-Japanese struggle and is claimed to be the location of the so-called "Baekdu Mountain Secret Camp," the hometown of Kim Jong-il, the National Defense Commission Chairman. It is also known that General Secretary Kim Jong-un frequently visits this place before making major decisions.
Since Kim Jong-un's so-called "Baekdu Mountain horse climb" in 2019, North Korea has encouraged people from all walks of life to visit the revolutionary sites on Mount Baekdu.
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