North Korea has emphasized its entry into a new phase of comprehensive socialist development following the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party held last February. The regime is stressing ideological cohesion and a strategy of full mobilization across various sectors.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, declared on its front page on April 10 that the 9th Party Congress marks a significant political milestone, setting a new standard for socialist construction. It has outlined strategies to transition into a new era of comprehensive development. The newspaper underscored that prioritizing the people, maintaining unity of will, and practicing self-reliance remain unwavering ideologies. It emphasized the regime’s commitment to transforming the next five years into a period of radical change.
Page 2 highlighted the central art exhibition held in anticipation of Chairman Kim Il Sung’s birthday (April 15), showcasing how art is used to reinforce the cult of personality and legitimize the regime. The newspaper reported that the exhibition featured works depicting the revolutionary lives of the Great Leader (Kim Il Sung) and the Great General (Kim Jong Il), as well as the achievements of the esteemed Comrade Kim Jong Un. It emphasized a new era of prosperity and resurgence driven by people-first politics.
On page 3, the paper celebrated Chosun University’s 70th anniversary, an educational institution for Koreans in Japan. It stated that Chosun University’s 70-year history represents a struggle to maintain autonomy and dignity in the face of ethnic discrimination. The article claimed that educational aid from North Korea was vital to the institution’s survival.
Page 4 reported on the National Symphony Orchestra and the Dandelion Learning Factory receiving the Red Flag of the Three Revolutions, promoting revolutionary achievements in ideology, technology, and culture. The newspaper noted that every unit has actively engaged in revolutionary mass movements to implement Party policies, resulting in exemplary units emerging amid a nationwide campaign.
Page 5 spotlighted the production achievements of the Namhung and Hungnam Chemical Complexes, key fertilizer production facilities. The newspaper boasted that it exceeded the nitrogen fertilizer production target by over 5,000 tons, adding that they’ve simultaneously improved productivity and efficiency through cost-saving measures and technological innovation.
Page 6 focused on the health sector, emphasizing preventive medicine policies. The newspaper asserted that regardless of medical advancements, the principle of prioritizing prevention remains paramount, insisting on the need for thorough implementation of preventive measures such as health screenings and vaccinations.