The seventh anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death saw a flurry of memorial events held across the country, with public meetings emphasizing the late leader’s teachings and achievements. Markets were closed for the day to ensure the full attention of residents toward the activities.
“Officials at every workplace across the country started discussing the holiday from the first day of the month, and ordered societal organizations to arrange memorial events,” a source in Ryanggang Province reported.
She added that officials highlighted the illegality of watching foreign media content smuggled into the country, and warned residents to refrain from drinking and dancing in large groups, criminal activities, and fighting, all of which would lead to harsher punishment during the designated mourning period.
A source in South Pyongan Province reported that low-level municipal and county Party committee secretaries met multiple times in December to ensure all agricultural workers attended the memorial events in the province’s farms.
“On December 14, officials told us to prepare ahead of time for the market closure on the 17th,” she said.
To mark the anniversary, residents laid flowers at statues of the later leader in the morning and attended “remembrance gatherings” in the afternoon.
“The gathering focused on praising Kim Jong Il’s contribution to our country and people, and mourning his loss. We also heard about how Kim Jong Un will continue to follow his teachings to build a powerful and prosperous country,” she explained.
Both sources reported that the food contribution requirements placed on residents for the gatherings were a major source of stress, especially given the poor harvest season. “But there’s not much you can do about it,” the Ryanggang Province-based source quipped, noting the increased sensitivity surrounding the mourning period.
“You definitely don’t want to be blamed for anything right now.”
The Party-run Rodong Sinmun said in its English language version on December 17 that during his visit to Kumsusan Palace to see his father’s preserved body, Kim Jong Un “look[ed] back with deep emotion upon the sacred life of Kim Jong Il who performed very precious revolutionary feats for the country and the people” and that the Workers’ Party has “struggled to carry out his last instructions for the last seven years…”
He then reportedly “called on the entire Party to fulfill the obligation and duties as his revolutionary soldiers in the future, too, so as to dynamically struggle to implement his plan and desire to the last without an inch of deflection and any concession.”
