North Korean propaganda media launched several tribute pages to commemorate the 30th anniversary of President Kim Il Sung’s death on July 8. Despite previously refraining from using the term “sun” for Kim, North Korea is now intensifying the atmosphere of remembrance.
On July 6, a new page on the propaganda media website Naenara titled “The Revolutionary Thought and Immortal Achievements of Great Leader Kim Il Sung Will Shine Forever” was created. This page features articles, photos, and music related to Kim, organized into sections such as Immortal Achievements, Anecdotes, and Music. Naeara also launched a new page for a photo exhibition titled “With the People All His Life.” This section showcased photos of Kim working with farmers in June 1947 to his on-site guidance at the Kumdang Cooperative Farm in Onchon County, a month before his death in June 1994.
As the anniversary of Kim’s death approached, North Korea gradually increased tribute articles and enhanced the atmosphere.
The Workers’ Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, also praised Kim’s achievements in an article titled “The Great Patriot, the Benefactor of All People.” The article praised Kim, stating, “His achievements will live forever in the hearts of our people and progressive humanity, as well as in front of the homeland, revolution, era, and history.” The paper also featured a full-body portrait of Kim for the first time in a while. Leading up to the 30th anniversary, various events such as social science research debates, storytelling sessions for young students, and merit presentations by agricultural workers and union members were held the day before. International organizations, Russian groups, and families of overseas Koreans laid flower baskets at the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in tribute.
The newspaper has been heavily featuring articles and news about honoring Kim, including merit presentation meetings by the working class, league members, female workers, and women’s league members.
Earlier this month, the July issue of the propaganda magazine Geumsugangsan featured numerous articles in various formats related to Kim, including interviews, reflection articles, and song introductions.
This year’s anniversary is marked by a heightened atmosphere of remembrance compared to previous years. Although this year’s anniversary is a milestone, it contrasts with the recent trend in North Korea of downplaying the significance of Kim’s birthday, also known as the Day of the Sun.
In related news, the Korea Tourism website run by the North Korean National Tourism Administration featured a pop-up window with the words 1994-2024 and Eternal Sun of Juche, according to a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA). This indicates a return to using the title “sun” for Kim.
There is speculation about whether Kim Jong Un will visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the day of the anniversary, where his grandfather’s body lies. Kim did not visit the Kumsusan Palace on New Year’s Day, the Day of the Shining Star (Kim Jong Il’s birthday), or the Day of the Sun this year. This has been analyzed as a trend where North Korea refrains from mentioning the word “sun” and “erasing” its predecessors.
However, while reducing the number of visits, Kim Jong Un did visit the Kumsusan Palace on last year’s anniversary. He also visited Kumsusan and held a central memorial meeting on the 20th anniversary in 2014 and the 25th anniversary in 2019.