N. Koreans pledge loyalty oaths to leader Kim on birthday
North Korean President Kim Jong Un makes citizens swear loyalty on his 40th birthday to consolidate his power in the country
On the occasion of leader Kim Jong Un’s birthday, North Korea has asked its citizens to pledge loyalty oaths, marking a significant change in the country’s political environment. People perceive this change and other recent actions as an attempt to consolidate Kim’s power.
On Jan. 8, the South and North Development Institute, a Seoul-based organization, revealed that North Koreans were required to pledge their allegiance to Kim Jong Un on his 40th birthday.
The release of ceremony photos by the SAND indicates a transition to a more assertive political strategy under Kim’s leadership. The president of the institute, Choi Kyong-hui, suggested that North Korea may soon designate Kim’s birthday as an official commemoration.
North Korea has not officially verified Kim’s date of birth. Historically, oath ceremonies of this nature have conventionally taken place on the birthdays of his father and grandfather, who held the positions of the country’s previous rulers.
According to SAND’s analysis, Kim’s decision to hold a loyalty oath ceremony on his 40th birthday, as he enters his 13th year in power, indicates a move toward political assertiveness, deviating from his predecessors’ approach.
Historically, North Korea has consistently conducted these ceremonies to commemorate the birthdays of Kim’s father and grandfather, who were the country’s previous leaders. People perceive this alteration, along with other recent measures, as an attempt to reinforce the Kim family’s power.
In the previous month, North Korea unveiled a fresh musical composition showcasing individuals from diverse backgrounds, including children, soldiers, and medical personnel, enthusiastically singing lines such as “Let’s sing, Kim Jong Un, the great leader” and “Let’s brag about Kim Jong Un, a friendly father.”
Rachel Minyoung Lee from the 38 North program in Washington believes that we should interpret this as a deliberate move by North Korea to strengthen Kim’s propaganda campaign and consolidate his leadership.
This development arises in the midst of a sequence of noteworthy occurrences in North Korea. In April, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of Kim Jong Un, made a commitment to develop a formidable military force in order to protect the sovereignty of the country and maintain peace in the region.
The announcement was made in response to a sequence of missile tests conducted by North Korea, which had caused apprehension among neighboring countries and the international community.
In addition, a North Korean delegation, headed by the cabinet minister for international trade, visited Iran in the midst of enduring suspicions regarding clandestine military connections between the two countries.
Source: Newsroom
