An inside North Korean source reported to Daily NK on the 22nd that veterans from around the country departed for Pyongyang in recent days to attend events for July 27th, when the country memorializes “victory” in the Korean War.There was a similar event in Pyongyang at the same time last year, although this year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1953 cessation of hostilities, and is expected to be somewhat larger.
The South Pyongan Province source told Daily NK, “Representatives have gone to Pyongyang to attend the veterans’ event. They had their health checked, and after that they did the obligatory speeches.”
It is no longer easy to find veterans to take part in the July 17th events, since most of those who participated in the war are already more than 80 years old. As such, North Korea’s main reason for insisting on holding the competition seems simple: to remind people of the greatness of Kim Il Sung, who “won” the Korean War for North Korea, and thus inspire loyalty to the Kim Jong Eun regime.
The source said, “Each middle school has been organizing reunions of veterans,while propaganda units and sections of the Union of Democratic Women are preparing celebratory performances. Of course, because of the performances women are having trouble keeping up with their [market] work.”
A Yangkang Province source confirmed news of the burgeoning atmosphere, saying, “They are holding concerts daily here for the veterans, and every lecture is about how we ‘should protect Marshal Kim Jong Eun with our lives.’ The Union of Democratic Women is preparing five-colored tape, confetti and bouquets for the events.”
Since last year, North Korea has also been giving veterans small quantities of rice and wheat flour in the name of Kim Jong Eun at this time. However, last year officials in Hyesan are said to have collected money from ordinary civilians in order to buy the pork for veterans, but then the product was actually sent to local military bases for consumption by soldiers, creating considerable anger.
