In an abrupt move, North Korea has called off plans to allow workers to take a day off on leader Kim Jong Eun’s birthday, January 8th, with most residents to instead be mobilized to fill compost quotas.

“Just until last week, everyone thought we were getting the day off on the Marshal’s birthday, but yesterday, we were told that wouldn’t be the case” a source in Yangkang Province told the Daily NK on Monday. This makes it likely that workers at factories and homemakers alike will be out collecting manure from as many sources as they can on the 8th. 

Each year in January, Pyongyang mobilizes the entire nation to procure substantial volumes of manure. For instance, in the case of the Chosun Democratic Women’s Union members, each individual is under strict orders to meet a 1.6 ton quota by the end of March--failure to do so leaves one susceptible to harsh political judgement. 

On the ground, the state’s abrupt change of orders has fueled two main theories to circulate among residents looking to explain the shift.

Some believe it is part of Kim Jong Eun’s move to avoid further public celebrations in his honor until he has additional achievements bolstering his leadership. “Although the three years of mourning for the General [Kim Jong Il] may be over, it does seem to be too soon to declare the day as a national holiday,” the source said. “According to rumors, the Marshal said ‘it’s not a national holiday so don’t stir up the atmosphere like it is."

However, a different source in North Hamkyung Province disagreed with these speculations, asserting instead that workers lost their holiday because of excessive competition among Party cadres focused on proving their loyalty to the leader and the Party.

“I don’t think the Marshal actually said anything, rather it’s the central Party cadres driving people out to take part in this ‘compost battle,’ vowing to attain goals laid out in the [Marshal’s] New Year’s address,” she said. “Because the Marshal made numerous references during his address to economic issues, Party cadres are already engaged in heated competition.” 

Meanwhile, aside from some snacks--rumored to be of better quality than last year due to directives to raise factory standards -- being handed out to children around the country as gifts, the day of Kim Jong Eun’s birthday is expected to go by with no major events unfolding. A 2015 North Korean calendar published by the Chosun Publication Export-Import Company, acquired by the Daily NK, leaves the day unmarked.