통일부 "北, 올해 충성선서 신년 대신 김정은 생일에 진행"
Meanwhile North Korea's efforts to play up its leader Kim Jong-un 's image and power were evident earlier this year when the regime hosted its loyalty oath ceremony on his birthday.
Now this is according to the Unification Ministry here.
Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil reports.
North Korea appears to be continuing to step up efforts to solidify the leadership cult of the regime's leader.
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification confirmed Tuesday that North Korea held this year’s loyalty pledge on January 8th, leader Kim Jong-un’s birthday, instead of the usual January 1st.
Loyalty pledges, while regionally varied, typically involve residents gathering for a meeting on the party or leader before signing the pledge.
The Ministry analyzed the shift as part of a deliberate move to elevate Kim’s status, marking a break from tradition that occasionally aligned these pledges with the birthdays of Kim Il-sung or Kim Jong-il.
The Ministry noted North Korea’s recent removal of 'Juche Era' references from state media, instead opting for the standard Gregorian calendar.
The Juche Era is a calendar system tied to Kim Il-sung’s birth in 1912.
The ministry interprets this shift as Kim distancing his leadership from reliance on the legacy of his predecessors, signaling a stronger push for his own cult of personality.
Seoul believes this effort may intensify, with potential moves such as declaring Kim’s birthday a public holiday or expanding the use of Kim's portraits and badges.
On the economic front, North Korea’s trade with China has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
From January to September, bilateral trade reached $1.49 billion, or just 76% of the amount recorded in 2019.
Despite a gradual reopening of the economy, North Korea’s imports and exports remain sluggish, with sectors such as raw materials for production continuing to dominate trade.
The ministry also noted that while North Korea may consider additional troop deployments to Russia, it is more likely to rotate existing forces if the war continues.
Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.
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2024-11-26, 17:00 (KST)
