Seoul: Amidst a countrywide alert for heavy rainfall and potent winds brought by tropical storm Khanun, North Koreans are being urged to safeguard and preserve the portraits of Kim Jong Un, reinforcing their significance and sanctity. These portraits, along with those of Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, grace every household and workplace across the nation. The importance of preserving these images is a directive that underscores the perpetual reverence the populace is expected to hold for their leaders. This practise serves as a prominent emblem of the North Korean regime’s legitimacy and its quest to uphold order.
In a land marked by cultural and economic isolation, where malnutrition and severe impoverishment are widespread, a substantial portion of the population toils daily in agricultural fields, factories, and the capital, Pyongyang. The impact of Tropical Storm Khanun has taken a particularly harsh toll on many already ensnared in poverty.
The imagery of North Korea’s ruling Kim dynasty transcends mere symbolism; these images are held in deep religious reverence. Similar to religious devotion, the North Korean state demands unwavering commitment from its citizens to safeguard these icons, a testament to their utmost significance.
As stipulated by the official newspaper of the Korean Workers’ Party, Rodong Sinmun, paramount importance is placed on ensuring the safety of propaganda portraits depicting Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Il Sung. Citizens are further instructed to protect various forms of artistic representation, including statues, mosaics, murals, sketches, and monuments that immortalise the rule of the Kim dynasty, which has governed North Korea since its inception in 1948.
Tropical storm Khanun has already wreaked havoc in South Korea, causing floods and landslides that resulted in casualties and evacuations. North Korea, too, is bracing for the storm’s impact, with various sectors and units mobilising to combat the adversities of this unusual climate. Members of the military and the ruling party have been tasked with implementing flood-mitigation strategies and safeguarding crops, particularly in anticipation of the storm reaching the capital city of Pyongyang.
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