North Korea is fostering a memorial atmosphere ahead of the 30th anniversary of the death of Kim Il Sung. Amid reports that the mourning period has been shortened, domestic and international media are continuously publishing memorial articles.
Rodong Sinmun reported on July 5, “In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the death of Comrade Kim Il Sung, a merit presentation meeting of the labor class and union members was held at the Central Workers Hall on July 4.”
The newspaper conveyed that the participants “spoke movingly of the noble character of Comrade Kim Il Sung, who dedicated his life to guiding the people and bestowing grace on the labor class under the motto that people are his God.”
A merit presentation meeting of female workers and union members was also held at the Women’s Hall the day before. It was reported that the participants “spoke deeply of the immortal achievements of the people’s leader, who devoted his entire life to the party, revolution, country, and people, with a heartfelt longing and boundless admiration for Comrade Kim Il Sung.”
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Kim Il Sung, flower baskets on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in North Korea, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) were laid at the Mansudae statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il the day before.
The July issue of the foreign propaganda monthly Geumsugangsan, which was released earlier this month, published numerous articles commemorating Kim Il Sung. The cover featured a procession visiting the Geumsusan Sun Palace to pay tribute to Kim Il Sung.
The magazine published an article titled “The Benevolent Father of the People” as its first article, saying, “The flowing time brings oblivion to people,” but also added, “For the life of Comrade Kim Il Sung, who devoted everything to the people, the passing time brings out greater passionate feelings and adds longing to the hearts of the people.”
Geumsugangsan also paid tribute through articles in the form of interviews, reflections, and songs praising Kim Il Sung.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s death. On the 25th anniversary in July 2019, there were grand memorial events, including Kim Jong Un’s visit to the Geumsusan Sun Palace. However, this year, North Korea decided to downplay the significance of Kim Il Sung’s birthday by refraining from using the name the Day of the Sun. This suggests that the anniversary events will not be as grand as in previous years.
The day before, Radio Free Asia (RFA) cited sources that North Korea instructed to reduce the mourning period for Kim Il Sung from a week to a single day. This has led to assumptions that suggest Kim Jong Un is trying to erase the legacy of his predecessors.