Recently, a rumor that South Korean President Lee Myung Bak had died did the rounds inside North Korea. Now, Daily NK has learned that the rumor was systematically distributed by the Workers’ Party Propaganda and Agitation Department.
An inside source from Yangkang Province told Daily NK today, “In three separate political lectures held on the 9th, 16th and 23rd of this month in Hyesan Culture Center, municipal Party propaganda officials announced, ‘Lee Myung Bak, who insulted the dignity of the General, has suffered death’.”
“Exactly the same lecture was also given locally in Hwapyeong County, Samjiyeon County and Kim Hyung Jik County, which are within Hyesan City,” the source added.
According to the source, officials delivering the ‘news’ avoided offering a cause or date of death, but alluded to the idea that President Lee died as a direct and fully deserved result of insulting the dignity of Kim Jong Il in the recent ‘photo incident’.
In the incident, photos of Kim Jong Il and son Kim Jong Eun were published in the South Korean media with battle slogans printed beneath their names, an act which angered the North Korean regime and led to more than two weeks of angry demonstrations in the North Korean media and correspdonding shows of strength from high military officials in the South.
On March 11th, Rodong Shinmun, the Chosun Workers’ Party publication, published an article revealing news of the ‘rumor’ doing the rounds and stating that, if true, it would be no less than the “traitor” Lee deserved.
