North Korea held a military-civilian solidarity rally in the city of Hamhung on March 6, but some people in South Hamgyong province say the event amounted to little more than a standard political rally, reflecting a broader shift away from the goodwill exchanges that once defined such gatherings since the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea convened in 2021.
“A military-civilian solidarity rally was held in Hamhung on March 6. Since there haven’t been any major military-civilian events recently, some were excited about the rally. But to many people’s disappointment, the event turned out to be no different from any other political rally,” a source in South Hamgyong province told Daily NK on Monday.
According to the source, the rally included no exchange programs, consisting entirely of speeches, seminars and slogan chanting.
“The old solidarity meetings were designed to bolster military-civilian relations. Every school, factory and enterprise is assigned a military unit to support, and people would bring care packages to their assigned unit on major holidays,” the source said.
The military-civilian solidarity meetings were part of a longstanding friendship program intended to boost troop morale, with civilians bringing gifts of food and everyday goods. In recent months, however, those goodwill meetings appear to have been replaced with political events.
The Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported that a military-civilian solidarity rally was held in Pyongyang on Feb. 28, followed by reports of additional rallies held around the country on March 5 and 6. Those events reportedly consisted of speeches, seminars and mass demonstrations, much the same as any standard political gathering.
People see rallies as political burden, not community tradition
“Political rallies are typically held on major holidays and events, and it feels like having one more event of that sort. Ordinary people are concerned these military-civilian solidarity rallies will continue for the duration of the regional development policy,” the source said.
North Koreans, in other words, view the solidarity rallies as yet another political event at which they are required to demonstrate loyalty to the ruling party and the supreme leader.
“Similar events are held at enterprises, the Federation of Trade Unions, the Youth League and neighborhood watch units. They all end up being a repeat of the same event, although officials find various excuses to keep holding them. It’s no wonder people are annoyed when they have to attend these events over and over again,” the source said.
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