North Korea is using cultural and leisure activities such as water play and marine sports—enjoyed by residents during the hot weather—for regime propaganda.
On Thursday, the Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on page 5, in an article titled, Marine Sports Activities Actively Unfolding, that July and August have been designated as Marine Sports Months, during which beaches across the country are packed with people.
The newspaper stated that cultural and recreational facilities along the coasts of Chongjin, Wonsan, Nampo, and other areas on both the east and west coasts, as well as modern swimming pools nationwide, are bustling with crowds every day. It added that visiting the renovated beaches, designed for the convenience of the people, has brought us closer to the sea. Watching people swim with joy inspires even greater ambition and courage to conquer the ocean.
The newspaper also mentioned the Munsu Water Park, North Korea’s version of a water park and one of Kim Jong Un’s construction achievements. It described the facility as a place with conditions at the highest level, emphasizing that people of all ages say that visiting here rejuvenates both body and mind.
The newspaper urged that workers at all levels must remember that the Marine Sports Month activities in July and August are vital for preparing employees for labor and national defense while boosting morale, and they should devote significant effort to this.
Earlier, on Monday, Korean Central Television also highlighted students participating in marine sports activities at beaches and water parks during their summer vacation as part of Marine Sports Month.
Additionally, Korean Central Television showcased students learning to swim at Pyongyang Future Elementary School in Pyongchon District, affiliated with Kim Hyong Jik University of Education, and at Ryomyong Senior Middle School in Daesong District, as well as employees learning to swim at the Pyongyang Basic Foodstuff Factory.