North Korean police officers have been tasked with writing essays about a video of Kim Jong Un honoring fallen North Korean soldiers, an exercise apparently intended to boost their patriotism and loyalty.
A source in North Korea told Daily NK on Monday that the Ministry of Social Security’s political bureau instructed provincial police bureaus on July 9 to have officers write personal responses to a video about the deployment of troops to Russia. The provincial police bureaus then passed those orders along to police departments in each city and county.
Officers in municipal and county police departments around the country are currently attending group viewings of the video, with essays due by the end of the month.
The source said the video in question was screened during an artistic performance at the East Pyongyang Grand Theater on June 29 that was attended by Kim and Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova.
Coverage by North Korea’s Korean Central Television showed photographs of North Korean troops training and fraternizing with Russian comrades during their deployment, along with video of a teary-eyed Kim cradling the coffins of fallen soldiers in the background of the performance.
The North Korean authorities appear to be actively reusing this video in political programs designed to reinforce internal unity under the regime.
Emotional responses and political objectives
Police officers who have watched the video have reportedly made great displays of emotion.
“People were already aware of the deployment to Russia through study sessions and lectures. But images of the actual deployment have brought the war home to many people who cried with grief for the soldiers’ sacrifice,” the source said.
Some emotionally overcome officers wept to see Kim Jong Un mournfully caress coffins draped with the North Korean flag.
The source explained that the program’s objectives are underscoring North Korea’s strategic alliance with Russia and elevating loyalty to the party and the fatherland.
“Officers are basically being reminded that since soldiers in the war are doing their duty by representing the country overseas, they too should devote themselves to their respective roles on the front lines of defending the party, the supreme leader, the fatherland and the Korean nation,” the source said.
Since the photographs of deployed soldiers were released, some North Koreans have spoken about the need to expand the military and strengthen relations with Russia.
“Now that the fact of the war is hitting home, people are reflecting on the primacy of national defense and remarking that maintaining a strong alliance with a big country like Russia will ultimately be beneficial for us as well,” the source said.
