Since late last year, North Korean state propaganda has been framing a bumper
autumn harvest as one of Kim Jong Eun’s personal achievements, rather than the fortunate outcome of favorable weather conditions across much of Asia. However, the official view has been greeted with incredulity in many quarters.
“The
authorities have been pushing the fact that last year’s farming
went well in some areas as ‘the fruit of Kim Jong Eun’s love for the people,’” a source
from North Hamkyung Province reported to Daily NK on the 12th. “But you won’t find a single person who sees it that way.”
Furthermore, “There are frequent ‘farming encouragement’
lectures during people’s unit and Democratic Women’s Union meetings, and in most of them
we get told that ‘Last
year was a great year because we farmed in accordance with the instructions of
General Kim Jong Eun.’ They also emphasize the need to work hard to accomplish
in full all the tasks proposed in this year’s New Year’s
Address. But we all know it was down to good weather, and would love to hear what it was that the General contributed.”
“While everyone in rural areas is aware that we had an
abnormally good year, we also know that compost production and the other
vital agricultural preparations were much the same as ever,” the source recalled.
“People are saying that a bumper harvest year must match the weather and the
skies must be good if we want another good harvest. It’s indirect criticism of
the official propaganda.”
“[Kim
Jong Eun] has been giving out onsite guidance to army units, construction sites
and army fisheries, but we’ve never seen him on a farm,” she added. “People simply snort at the notion that his ‘love for the people’ resulted in a good harvest. No
one seriously believes that a good harvest can be the result of his leadership.”
“People really do seem unimpressed with Kim Jong Eun right now, and specifically
since the aunt’s husband [Jang Song Taek] was executed,” the source controversially alleged. “Though
they cannot speak of it freely, it is obvious in their actions and words that
they don’t
believe in him.”
