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Propaganda is in full swing in North Korea, marking 100 days since the announcement of Kim Jong Eun’s “Masikryeong Speed.”
In an open letter of encouragement to workers at the Masikryeong ski field published in the Rodong Sinmun, it was reported that construction was 85% complete. This progress was attributed to the “wise leadership” of Kim Jong Eun and the loyalty extended to him by both the military and citizenry.
The term “Masikryeong Speed” first appeared in early June, when a letter of encouragement penned by Kim Jong Eun was published to motivate the soldiers mobilized for the early phases of construction.
While the recent article anticipates the “world-class ski resort” to be completed in the near future, the photos show little in the way of heavy equipment, indicating that the work is being carried out by manpower alone.
A North Korean defector contacted Daily NK, stating, “The commanding officers say that ‘Even if your body breaks, the General’s orders must be carried out.’ They force the soldiers to do hard labor. Those soldiers mobilized for construction consider themselves fortunate if they don’t die or have an accident.”
“People can easily pick up a copy of the Rodong Sinmun, so North Korea is attempting to spread propaganda about the ‘fight to the death’ spirit of the construction workers. But in reality the people just laugh, saying that workers without equipment are no better than ants.”
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Safety equipment is noticeably absent, making for extremely dangerous working conditions for the mobilized soldiers and laborers.
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The Rodong Sinmun article stated that “The mountainous terrain is so steep that its hard to keep your footing. Nevertheless, dozens of tons of water and 120 tons of construction aggregate have been carried by people on their backs, and construction has been secured.” It was also noted that this was the result of Kim Jong Eun’s patriotic appeals.
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This photo shows citizens organizing “aid” for the military, including pears, grapes, rice and corn. One defector told Daily NK that, “They call it ‘aiding the military’, but the people are really thinking, ‘We beg you, don’t steal our livestock and grain from us.'”
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