The North Korean authorities are still working to bring society under full ideological control following the shocking execution of Jang Sung
Taek earlier this month. Now, events nominally commemorating the Christmas Eve birth of the deceased grandmother
of Kim Jong Eun have been used to generate loyalty to the regime in a way unseen in recent years.
A source from Yangkang Province reported to
Daily NK on the 23rd, “’Loyalty song gatherings’ were held by
units of the Women’s Union to mark the 24th of December. In years
gone by the norm was songs about ‘Mother Kim Jong Suk,’ but this year there
were more songs about the General (Kim Jong Eun).”
According to the source, the first song at
such gatherings is normally ‘Mother Kim Jong Suk is Our Mother,’ followed by a song
about Kim Jong Il’s elevation to the post of Supreme Commander of the KPA.
However, this year’s events were dominated by songs exalting Kim Jong Eun.
“We sang more songs promising loyalty to
the General than we did songs or poems about Mother,” she explained. “In fact, the
first song we sang at the meeting was ‘We Cannot Live without Him.’”
“The poetry readings were mainly about
defending the Suryeong with our lives, such as the one that came out in Rodong
Sinmun a few days ago, ‘We know nothing but the Mt. Baekdu bloodline,’” she went on.
“Other elements were the same as in past
years, like film and literature study, and memorial lectures as well,” she said. “But since
most ended with pledges of loyalty to the General, people reckon
that the events show the extent to which [the authorities] are working
on the theme of protecting the Party and Suryeong after the Jang Song Taek incident.”
“Since Jang’s execution they have been emphasizing
loyalty to Kim Jong Eun every day to ensure that people don’t sway. Now even on his
grandmother’s birthday they are doing it,” she added.
