[imText1]For the first time in history, North Korean authorities have consented to 5 days of official public holiday in celebration of Kim Jong Il’s 65th birthday (Feb 16th) and the Lunar New Year.
During these 5 days, North Korean authorities will suspend investigations by the National Safety Agency and the National Security Agency along the border regions. Instead, an “Anniversary for Kim Jong Il’s Birth Convention” will be opened, an inside source informed on the 15th.
The source said “North Korean authorities have recently made an order to ‘ensure that the people rest well during the Lunar new year’” and “North Korean authorities have stated that the anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s birthday 16th~17th will be officially celebrated on 18th~20th of the Lunar new year.”
“The National Security Agency and the National Safety Agency will also be celebrating the official holidays and will temporarily stop searches and inspections around the border” he added.
He continued “This is the first time that citizens from the border regions have been given 5 days of public holidays” and said “On top of Kim Jong Il’s birthday coinciding with the Lunar new year, a compromise has finally been made with the six party talks. It seems that efforts are being made to glorify Kim Jong Il’s accomplishments by permitting a 5 day holiday.”
Also, an authority committee in Haesan city is organizing a “Presentation for the 43rd Anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s Governmental Operations” and a military ball in honor of Kim Jong Il’s birthday.
The source informed “The ‘Presentation for the 43rd Anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s Governmental Operations’ will take place on the 16th at 10AM in Yeokjon, Haesan in celebration of Kim Jong Il’s birth” and said “It is merely a presentation to reaffirm that Kim Jong Il’s government has been reigning for 43 years.”
He added “The presentation will be organized in a way that it congratulates Kim Jong Il’s birthday” and explained “Men and women must participate in this meeting escorted and women must dance dressed in decorative traditional Korean jacket.”
Hence, government committees in Haesan seem to have already begun mobilizing the People’s Unit to make room for the presentation at Yeokjon Square. However, North Korean people are showing a response that they cannot enjoy the festivities.
The source said “Although North Korean authorities have ordered ‘During Lunar new year, wear the traditional Korean dress and fully embrace the holiday festivities,’ the North Korean people are complaining that its hard enough to live and eat, let alone having to wear the traditional dress.”
Still another source informed “In celebration of Kim Jong Il’s birthday, North Korean authorities have provided gifts for children under 12. For North Korean citizens, holiday provisions have been distributed.” Apparently, the gifts were given free of charge and the holiday provisions distributed at a cost lower than the standard of goods at Markets.
The source said “Children in elementary schools grade 4 and 12 years under were given gift bags containing 1 rice cracker, 5 pieces of gum, 500g of sugar candy and 500g of biscuits” and informed that, “These gift bags were also distributed to children who do not attend school, but as the gift bags were made of plastic and hence reusable, authorities confiscated the bags after.”
Under the orders of city and administrative committees of trade, state operated stores distributed 1 candle imported from China, 200g of biscuits and 1 bottle of acorn wine as a symbol of the Lunar new year. The new year distributions are being operated by the administrative committees individually. Each household must come to the store and can only receive the distribution by paying 480 North Korean won.
“Normally, we have to pay 500won to the state run stores in order to receive the new year distributions but the trade committees do not refund 20won change so North Korean citizens get annoyed” said the source and added “Instead of giving the remaining change, the trade committees distribute goods that don’t sell in the store such as underwear, elastic bands, safety pins and toothpicks.”
