Facing one of the biggest holidays in North Korea, Kim Jong Il’s birthday on February 16th, commemorative events have been mainly conceptualized in terms of idolization of Kim Jong Eun, according to a Daily NK source.
The source from Chongjin, North Hamkyung Province explained yesterday that while commemorative events on the day before Kim Jong Il’s birthday are conventionally about the greatness and long life of the leader, this time such events have been trimmed back and other content about the “successor to the Military-first idea” and “Mt. Baekdu blood” are set to be emphasized.
The source went on, “On January 15th, a document entitled ‘Method for each unit and organization to welcome on a grand scale the upcoming 69th anniversary of the birth of the Great Leader, General Kim Jong Il’ was handed down to provincial committees of the Party by the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Central Committee.”
Accordingly, discussions in each provincial committee about celebrating Kim Jong Il’s birthday have been held, and now each enterprise and factory is preparing commemorative performances and street decorations.
The source said, “The chairs of factories and enterprises have had a headache over the preparations for the birthday, because all the while failing to offer anything to eat they have been trumpeting it as the biggest holiday in the nation and issuing orders to each circle (of factory and enterprise performers) and telling workers to decorate the streets.”
He continued, “Cadres threaten us, saying, ‘Even though you can’t produce anything for the shortage of materials, you should join in with the circle 100%. Otherwise, we will deal with it politically.’” He explained, “Since there will be a rehearsal on February 13th when evaluation teams will assess each performance, cadres are persuading and warning them to keep practicing and put up with it until that time.”
According to defectors, the evaluation teams consist of three or four cadres from the provincial committee and provincial General Federation of Korean Trade Unions dispatched to each enterprise or factory in order to check on the preparations for performances, decide which performances can be showed at provincial or workplace events and make suggestions to add content to the performances.
Regarding the concept, the source said, “In last year’s event, the greatness and long life of the General was the main topic, but this year content praising comrade Kim Jong Eun is everywhere. The chorus is still Song of the General, but poetry reading in chorus (read by tens of people simultaneously), dialogue poetry (read by three people) and the main musical are all about praise for comrade Kim Jong Eun.”
“Half of the concepts we are preparing are about how ‘We have another Military-first general who has inherited the blood of Mt. Baekdu,’” and added, “At the end of all the performances performers all show their determination, saying, ‘Let’s complete the Military-first achievements by holding comrade Kim Jong Eun aloft.’”
However, there have reportedly not been any special provisions made ready for the holiday.
The source explained, “There has not been anything provided by the upper but there is an instruction to provide properly depending on each enterprise’s situation. However, a little bit of soy sauce and soy bean paste and some gifts (one kilogram of candies, cookies and gum) for kids may be provided.”
