Yesterday’s live broadcast of the second
anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death was viewed in work unit meeting rooms and households
across North Korea, it has been confirmed.
According to Daily NK sources, the 2013 mourning
events for Kim Jong Il have been instrumentalized to generate pledges of
loyalty to Kim Jong Eun following the execution of Jang Sung Taek. Local officials have been careful to ensure that people take part in the events
with the “appropriate” attitude, warning against any displays of what could be
interpreted as disloyalty.
A source from Jagang Province reported to
Daily NK on the 18th, “Televisions were set up in the meeting rooms
of most agencies at the time of the General’s memorial service, and memorial events
were held. An order came down from the Upper [the authorities] that said ‘When applauding,
even when seated, do not slouch. No leniency for half-hearted applause.’
Because of that, everyone, children and adults alike, watched the event sat bolt
upright.”
“Lectures these days are all about how
there must not be even the slightest wavering of our loyalty to the Marshal
(Kim Jong Eun), and that there is nobody but the Marshal. If you do anything
even slightly out of the ordinary at a time like this you could be made an
example of, so people are on high alert,” she said.
“Parents coming to the event with their
young children had to control them, which brought them out in a cold sweat,” she went on. “After the event finished some of them were talking about how three or four-year
old children, who don’t even know what death is yet, laughed and joked around during
the event, and that they were really concerned that Party cadres might spot it.”
The source added finally, “This incident
has shown that if you are against the Party or the Suryeong, there be no
forgiveness even for family. Therefore, for the time being, people are being cautious
about what they say and do.”
