North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has skipped the traditional visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Wednesday (April 15), the birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, marking his fourth consecutive year of absence. The last time Kim paid respects on the Day of the Sun was during Kim Il Sung’s 110th birthday commemoration in April 2022.
North Korea’s state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on Thursday that Prime Minister Pak Thae-song and other high-ranking officials, including Jo Yong-won, the party’s organizational secretary, visited the Kumsusan Palace the previous day to pay tribute to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Notably, the report made no mention of Kim’s attendance.
Since his rise to power, Kim had consistently visited the palace to honor his predecessors on their birthdays. However, he has abstained from the Day of the Sun observance since 2023. Earlier this year, he also missed the visit to the Kumsusan Palace for Kim Jong Il’s birthday, known as the Day of the Shining Star, in February.
It’s worth noting that North Korea has increasingly referred to Kim Il Sung’s birthday as April 15 or April Holiday instead of the traditional Day of the Sun. This shift in terminology extends to external communications as well. Similarly, they have adopted more neutral expressions like February 16 Celebration in place of Day of the Shining Star for Kim Jong Il’s birthday on February 16.
A spokesperson from South Korea’s Unification Ministry commented on this trend, stating that North Korea has significantly reduced the use of terms heavily associated with the idolization of its former leaders, such as the Day of the Sun and the Day of the Shining Star. This change is interpreted as an effort to bolster Kim’s independent status and diminish the perception of reliance on his predecessors’ legacies.