As of December 16th [KST], one day away
from the third anniversary of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s death, the atmosphere in the North was eerily dead with no
major commemorative events planned, according to Daily NK’s sources within the country. Breaking expectations that
Pyongyang would prepare a grand event to mark the occasion, muted events
mourning the former leader’s passing are being held.
“We’ve been told at
work and by the Chosun Democratic Women’s Union that
commemorations on the 17th will be held by families and at the workplace,” a source in Yangkang Province told the Daily NK on Tuesday. “I’m unaware of any large-scale events
related to the anniversary taking place in Hyesan.”
Instead of noticeable commemorative events,
the country has been holding lectures, film and book studies, and singing
sessions all emphasizing “Kim Jong Il patriotism” in its efforts to rally up loyalty from the residents.
“Each inminban [people’s unit] and workplace has been instructed to clean snow from the
Bocheonbo Battle Victory Monument and the Yeongsaeng monument [monuments dedicated
to Kim Il Sung and/or Kim Jong Il, meaning ‘eternal life’ in Korean] so funeral wreaths or commemorative flowers
can be laid, but other than that no other orders have been given,” he said. “Some people have said it seems a
bit too quiet for the third anniversary.”
“Last year, the Jang Song Taek incident
broke out during the period of mourning, so rather than commemoration, a lot of
it was focused on Jang’s acts of treason and pledging
loyalty to the Marshal [Kim Jong Eun],” the source
said. “This year, there’s no mention
of Jang Song Taek, and it doesn’t seem like there will
be a big event.”
However the source did add, “Although an official period of mourning has not been announced,
there were orders to step up security on the Bocheonbo Battle Victory Monuments
and research centers on revolutionary history.” He
explained that extra care was provided for guarding statues or research labs
since the end of 2012, but that the atmosphere this year is “very different from back then.”
Another source in North Hamkyung Province
confirmed similar sentiments felt in the region. “There
have been no special measures in relation to commemorative events,” he said. “We have been carrying out related
studies, lectures, and visits to historical sites, but the focus has been more
on getting results from local field guidance projects handed down to units by
the Marshal rather than on mourning.”
“Some residents have said that it is odd
that things are so quiet with no major commemorative event,” he added. “Without there being a grand
event planned by the [Party’s] central command, it’s hard to feel the atmosphere of mourning at markets and wherever we
go.”
“On the day of, the central Party will probably hold a
commemorative event, but it looks like the massive third-year ceremony that
people expected will not be happening,” he explained. “Because of that, most aren’t showing much interest in the
matter.”
