North Korea has called on party members and citizens to show heightened loyalty to leader Kim Jong-un on the birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il-sung. The ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, emphasized the shared people-centered policies of the two leaders on the 114th birth anniversary of founder Kim Il-sung. The newspaper highlighted the continuity of the founder’s policy of prioritizing the people under the current leader’s guidance, describing it as a lasting political philosophy of the ruling party and the state.
The article stressed the importance of upholding the ideology and leadership of Kim Jong-un with unwavering loyalty. It urged the adherence to the people-centered policy that has been a cornerstone of the ruling party and the state. Additionally, the newspaper called for a stronger commitment to realizing the ruling party’s primary goal of enhancing the welfare of the people.
North Korea traditionally commemorates the founder’s birthday, known as the “Day of the Sun,” as a significant national holiday. However, in recent years, there has been a decrease in the use of honorific terms for the founder’s birthday, signaling a shift towards emphasizing loyalty to the current leader, Kim Jong-un. Various social groups, including the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea and the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea, have conducted events to mark the founder’s birth anniversary, reaffirming their allegiance to Kim Jong-un.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), youths and students were scheduled to hold an outdoor rally at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to celebrate the anniversary. This event underscores the continued reverence for the founding leader and the current leader in North Korean society.
