Having revised the “Ten Principles for the Establishment of the One-Ideology System” (hereafter “Ten Principles”) for the first time in 39 years early this summer, the North Korean authorities have ordered a nationwide round of public criticism sessions and associated writings to determine whether they are being upheld.

A source from Shinuiju in North Pyongan Province reported to Daily NK on the 23rd, “Recently, a command was handed down from the Central Party that self-criticism sessions based on the Ten Principles must be conducted. The Upper (the authorities) are holding these sessions to look into all aspects of people’s lives, in order to see that the Ten Principles are being dutifully adhered to.”

“The four key thematic areas for the sessions are ‘defense,’ ‘fulfilling the last instructions (of Kim Jong Il), ‘organizational life’ and ‘revolutionizing the family,’” the source explained. “All must be dealt with and written up scrupulously. The Party has warned that the sessions will have to continue until all wrong-doings have come out.”

According to the source, “defense” consists of ensuring that all works that idolize the Kim family, be it portraits, badges, or paintings, be enshrined and cared for appropriately. “Fulfilling the last instructions” involves making sure people’s actions match the core slogans of the Party, and, even more importantly, that “No.1 Teachings” (the words of the Supreme Leaders, namely Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Eun) be enacted in everyday life.

“Organizational life” means cleaving to the perspective demanded by the organizations one is mandatorily affiliated with, while “Revolutionizing the family” seeks to determine to what extent relationships within families are being conducted in accordance with the teachings of the Party.

“In the 90s when there was the Arduous March, there was a system of self-criticism sessions based on the Ten Principles every two days and bi-weekly, but for a long time this was in name only; there was literally nothing to it,” the source recalled. “Instead of getting up in front of a crowd and taking criticism in front of the masses, it was sometimes dealt with by phone or written confession as well.”

“Party workers used to tell us, ‘Don’t pretend you don’t know other people’s wrongdoings. Expose what you know!’" the source recalled. "But it seemed that it didn’t have an effect on people. ‘Loyalty to the Party’ has become a thing of the past, and most of the time people just get themselves out of trouble one way or another. This is why they amended the Ten Principles and are now trying to enhance ideological awareness.”

The Ten Principles, North Korea’s primary ideological tool for enforcing the primacy of the Kim dynasty, were amended in June this year. Phrases featuring Kim Il Sung were modified to include both Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.