Workers’ Orgs to Hold Conferences in May and June

National headquarters of the Kim Il Sung Youth League (L) and the Korea Democratic Women’s Union (R) in Pyongyang (Photo: Google image)

DPRK state media reported on 4 May (Friday) that the four major Workers’ Organizations will hold membership conferences “from late May to early June.”  KCNA reports:

Conferences of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea and the Democratic Women’s Union of Korea are to be held here from late May to early June.

Discussed there will be the tasks of the working people’s organisations to hold in high esteem President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il as eternal leaders of the Party and revolution, carry through the decision of the Fourth Conference of the Workers’ Party of Korea and build a thriving socialist nation under the guidance of the dear respected Kim Jong Un.

It is not clear if the Workers’ Organizations’ conferences are linked to another large gathering in Pyongyang connected to boosting the country’s food supply.  Good Friends reported on its website on 2 May (Wednesday) that “the new leadership decided to hold a homeland meeting in Pyongyang early in May with the intent of preparing measures to resolve the problem of food shortages.  Three to four functionaries of related fields from each county, and even larger numbers from each city are continuing to gather in Pyongyang. . .the scale is second only to the party representatives’ conference held on 11 April.”  Good Friends also reported that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n), “personally ordered the meeting to be held, saying that good methods of food production should be sought fundamentally.”

AFP reports:

North Korean officials from across the country will meet in Pyongyang this month to discuss ways to boost agriculture in the food-scarce nation, a Seoul aid group said on Thursday.

The ‘Homeland Conference’ will focus on ways to expand farmland in the mountainous nation by cultivating rugged areas and inactive land, Good Friends said on its website.

The meeting will draw hundreds of people including central and local government officials, ruling communist party officials and other state agencies, making it as large as a party meeting last month, the aid group said.

Seoul’s unification ministry could not immediately confirm the reported meeting, for which the aid group gave no date.

The North suffered a famine which killed hundreds of thousands in the 1990s and severe food shortages continue. UN agencies said last November that three million people would need food aid this year and child malnutrition was rising.

Good Friends said the Pyongyang meeting would also consider a chronic workforce shortage in agriculture.

Many collectivised farms suffer high rates of absenteeism as farmers roam in search of roots and wild greens to compensate for grain shortages, it said.

KJI Statue Unveiled as Birthday Events Begin

A bronze statue depicting Kim Jong Il (R) on horseback was unveiled during a ceremony at Mansudae Art Studio on 14 February 2012. According to NK Economy Watch, the Kim Il Sung (L) statue is preexisting (Photo: KCNA)

Members of the central leadership attend the unveiling ceremony. In this image (L-R) are: Gen. Kim Jong Gak; Jang Song Taek; Gen. O Kuk Ryol; VMar Ri Yong Mu; VMar Kim Yong Chun; VMar Ri Yong Ho; Kim Yong Nam; Choe Yong Rim; Choe Tae Bok; Yang Hyong Sop; Kang Sok Ju; Kim Yang Gon; Kim Yong Il; Ju Kyu Chang; Choe Ryong Hae; Ju Kyu Chang; Kim Rak Hui (Photo: KCNA)

In a key event marking the birthday of the recently deceased DPRK supreme leader Kim Jong Il, a bronze statue was unveiled on Tuesday (14 February) at Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang.

An honor guard representing the three service branches of the Korean People's Army delivers a floral basket to the unveiled statue of Kim Jong Il on 14 February 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam delivers the keynote address at a ceremony unveiling a bronze statue of Kim Jong Il at Mansudae Art Studio on 14 February 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

A variety of events commemorating what is officially Kim Jong Il’s 70th birthday have been held throughout the DPRK.  More events will occur on or around 16 February (Thursday).  According to the official chronicles of the Korean Workers’ Party History Institute, KJI was born on 16 February 1942 in a log cabin near Mt. Paektu on the DPRK-China border while other accounts said that KJI was born in February 1941 at a Russian military base  Khabarovsk where his parents were stationed as members of the 88th Brigade under the Soviet Far East Command.  Since KJI’s death in 2011, the country has commemorated his birthday as the “Day of the Shining Star.”

In 2011 KJI joined central party, security and government leaders at a banquet.  In 2010 KJI attended to the reopening of the 8 February Vinalon Complex in South Hamgyo’ng, signed (or assented to) execution orders and personally informed the then-Cabinet Premier of his eventual dismissal.  A documentary film on KJI’s activities in that month later revealed that during February 2010 he also attended a synchronized swimming exhibition at Ch’angkwang Health Complex in central Pyongyang.  In February 2009, KJI was preoccupied with changing his military leadership and during that month Gen. O Kuk Ryol was appointed Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission [NDC], Kim Yong Chun was appointed Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and Ri Yong Ho was appointed chief of the General Staff.  Also, according to several sources and accounts, on the sidelines of private family festivities Jang Song Taek asked KJI’s three sons for their views on succession.  

Daily NK, citing the rumor mill of the country’s forex workers, considers the possibility that a complete list of KJI’s “behests” from 8 October 2011 will be publicized.  The only reported KJI behest and bequest the DPRK has released was the appointment of Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) as Korean People’s Army [KPA] Supreme Commander, which occurred during a KWP Political Bureau meeting on 30 December.  DNK analyzes that a public reading of the late center’s behests may solidify the political power of Jang Song Taek and Kim Kyong Hui:

One such person, whom Daily NK met in Shenyang, explained, “They say that the General’s ‘last instructions’ will be publicly released on Gwangmyungsung Day,” adding, “I am sure it will say that ‘the people must be one with comrade Kim Jong Eun and open the doors to the strong and prosperous nation’.”

“The first priority for the ‘last instructions’ will be to gather around comrade Kim Jong Eun with one heart; second, to build a strong and prosperous nation, and last the reunification of the fatherland,” the source went on. “As in the past when the Suryeong passed away, the ‘leadership of the last instructions’ will carry on for some time.”

However, it is the role of Jang Sung Taek that is attracting more attention than whether or not the last instructions are made public, the source claimed.

“If the General’s ‘last instructions’ are revealed this time, Vice Chairman Jan Sung Taek’s position will become much stronger,” he said. “I am sure the main point of the contents of the General’s ‘last instructions’ is, ultimately, to support comrade Kim Jong Eun enthusiastically, but who in the Republic will do that expect Jang?”

The main foreign currency earning lines in China and Malaysia are all stocked with Jang Sung Taek’s people, sources claim. While North Korea has been solidifying Kim Jong Eun’s power domestically, among front line foreign currency earners it is said that the competition is actually over loyalty to Jang.

Such people are very powerful, the source claimed, explaining, “We have to go back to North Korea every six months to a year for ideological education if we leave the country for two years, but those under Jang Sung Taek have the authority to extend the period without return to two or three years.”

“There is even a growing trend among workers (under Jang Sung Taek) to bring their children with them when they go abroad”. It has been long practice for the North Korean regime to keep the children of diplomats and workers in North Korea, to ensure ongoing loyalty.

Coincidentally, it is not only Jang himself who wields great power in North Korea. His late older brother Jang Sung Woo’s second son Jang Yong Chul is the current North Korean Ambassador to Malaysia, a position he has held since 2010, and his first son is working for the Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation. His son-in-law Jeon Young Jin was appointed North Korean Ambassador to Cuba on the 4th of last month.

Opening ceremony of the Paektusan Sports Cup held at the basketball gym on Friday (Photo: KCNA)

The festivities for KJI’s birthday got underway late last week as the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea visited revolutionary historical sites which culminated in a loyalty oath ceremony near KJI’s official birthplace near Mt. Paektu.  KCNA reports:

They laid floral baskets and flowers before the statues of President Kim Il Sung at the Pochonbo Revolutionary Battle Site and on the shore of Lake Samji and the mosaic depicting the three commanders of Mt. Paektu in the Paektusan secret camp and paid high tribute to them.

They went round the then command post of the Pochonbo battle, the police post of the Japanese imperialists, the sub-county office, the Samjiyon grand monument, etc.

They held an oath-taking meeting in front of Kim Jong Il’s old home in the Paektusan secret camp.

They toured the Samjiyon county-seat, which has undergone dramatic change, and conducted various political and cultural activities during the period.

A display of postage stamps depicting KJI and Kim Il Sung over the years, part of an exhibition which opened at the Korea Stamp Exhibition on Friday, 10 February 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

On 9 February (Thursday), Party Secretary of Propaganda (Publicity) and Agitation Kim Ki Nam presided over two exhibition openings.  At Korea Stamp Exhibition, Kim launched a show of past and current commemorative stamps about KJI:

The Korean stamp show for commemorating the 70th birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il was opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition today.

Seen at the exhibition are a stamp of the image of Kim Jong Il published for the first time in 1987 and stamps of the undying revolutionary exploits he performed in leading the Party, army and people along the road of sure victory.

There are also various stamps presented by Korean philatelists.

Present at the ceremony were Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea C.C., Sim Chol Ho, minister of Post and Telecommunications, officials concerned, creators, philatelists and working people.

Present on invitation were officials of foreign embassies here in charge of cultural and friendly relations.

At the end of the ceremony the participants went round the displayed stamps.

Photographs of Kim Jong Il at an exhibition at the People's Palace of Culture (Photo: KCNA)

At the People’s Palace of Culture, Kim launched the opening of an exhibition of photographs of KJI:

A national photo exhibition opened in the DPRK to commemorate the 70th birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il.

On display in its venue are at least 300 photos of the revolutionary career of Kim Jong Il.

Among them are pictures titled “The great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il declaring the programme of modeling the whole society on the juche idea”, “The great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il and the dear respected Kim Jong Un guiding the fire striking exercises of large combined unit of the Korean People’s Army” and “Kwangmyongsong-2 soaring up to fully display the national power of Songun Korea”.

“The dear respected Kim Jong Un participating in the farewell-bidding ceremony together with senior officials of party, state and armed forces organs,” “Kim Il Sung Square full of lamentations calling for the great General” and other pictures showing the days the greatest sorrow when people were in tears of blood at an unexpected loss of the father of the nation.

Members of the Democratic Women's Union of Korea attend a ceremony on 10 February 2012 at Oun Revolutionary Site on the outskirts of Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

On Friday (10 February) the Democratic Women’s Union of Korea held a loyalty oath event at the Oun Revolutionary Site in suburban Pyongyang.  Back in the city, KWP Secretary Choe Ryo’ng-hae presided over a loyalty oath event held by the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea:

A meeting of agricultural workers took place in the plaza of the Party Founding Memorial Tower on Friday to pledge to accomplish the revolutionary cause of juche under the leadership of the dear respected Kim Jong Un true to the behests of leader Kim Jong Il.

At the meeting a reporter and speakers said Kim Jong Il performed exploits before the country, the people, the era and history by developing and enriching the revolutionary idea of President Kim Il Sung and leading the Korean revolution along the path of victory.

The revolutionary exploits of Kim Jong Il would shine forever as he created the new history of perpetuating the memory of the President and turned the socialist country into a political, ideological and military power with his original songun politics, they stressed.

They vowed to keep on the drive for the great and fresh victory of the Juche revolution. A poem of pledge was read out there.

Also the same day, a declamation contest was held as the People’s Palace of Culture, attended by Choe Tae Bok and Kim Ki Nam:

In an oratory titled “The great motto” Choe Myong Ju, department director of the Ministry of Food Procurement and Administration, impressively told the story that Kim Jong Il autographed a paper on supplying the people with fish on December 16 last year.

Pak Yong Sun, section chief of the Hoeyang County Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Kangwon Province, said in an excited tone that Kim Jong Il glorified his great life as a life that braved snowstorm.

In an oratory titled “Sun” Han Chong Su, vice-minister of Light Industry, praised Kim Jong Il as the great sun of mankind who recorded legends about loving care for the people with rare leadership ability and noble virtue.

Speakers included Jong Myong Ok, manageress of Pyongyang Department Store No. 1, Kim Ju Song, department director of Railways, and Choe Myong Ok, deputy secretary of the Primary Committee of the WPK of Changwang Health Complex. In their oratories made under the respective titled “Promise”, “The General and his journeys to mix with people,” “Road to the front and Changgwang Health Complex” they impressively said there were too many stories to tell about Kim Jong Il’s total dedication to the people.

On Saturday (11 February) SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam and DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim attended a screening of the latest Kim Family documentary film With Desire of the Leader:

The film deals with the facts that leader Kim Jong Il made an endless journey of patriotic devoted service to realize the desire of President Kim Il Sung for building a thriving nation.

It tells about the undying leadership feats of the peerlessly great man, who put the dignity and strength of songun Korea on the highest level with his iron will and superhuman energies while instilling into the mind of the army and people the firm faith that the President is always with us.

Through the film its viewers hardened their belief that Kim Jong Il is the peerlessly illustrious songun commander and patriot and benevolent father who had spent all his life on the train of field guidance for the people’s happiness, enduring his fatigue.

The annual exhibition of Kimjongilia flowers (Photo: KCNA)

On 12 February (Sunday), members of the central leadership converged on KJI’s birthplace for a large loyalty oath rally.  This has typically been a major event during KJI birthday week.  The Mt. Paketu-based event that was held in 2010 was a kind of debut for VMar Ri Yong Ho and, to a lesser extent, Gen. Kim Jong Gak, presiding over a significant national event.  KCNA reports:

A meeting to vow loyalty took place in the secret camp in Mt. Paektu, a holy land of revolution, on Sunday  on the occasion of the birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il, the Day of the Shining Star, the greatest holiday of the nation.

Attending the meeting were Ri Yong Ho, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Kim Jong Gak, Pak To Chun, Choe Ryong Hae and officials of Party and armed forces organs and working people’s organizations, ministries and national institutions, service personnel of the Korean People’s Army and the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces and people from all walks of life.

The participants observed a moment’s silence in memory of Kim Jong Il.

Speeches were made there.

Vice Marshal Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, said that the birth of Kim Jong Il was the great jubilee and fortune of the nation which greeted the peerlessly songun sun and a worldwide event which promised the bright future of progressive mankind aspiring after independence.

Kim Jong Il made tireless efforts for increasing the military capability with the steadfast faith that the army guarantees the prosperity of the country and happiness of its people, he noted.

Kim Ki Nam, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., the Workers’ Party of Korea, said that thanks to the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il, the WPK has developed into an invincible party and genuine mother party and guiding force of the songun politics and it is shedding its rays as a dignified and sovereign party of President Kim Il Sung.

He stressed the need to cherish the invariable faith that Kim Jong Il will always be with us and uphold him in high esteem for all ages and fully and unconditionally implement his last instructions.

Ri Yong Chol, first secretary of the C.C., the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, said the youth marking the significant Day of the Shining Star in the sacred land of the revolution where the great sun of songun was born miss Kim Jong Il very much.

He stressed the need for all members of the young vanguard to firmly unite around the dear respected Kim Jong Un and accomplish the cause of the Juche revolution started in Mt. Paektu, true to the last instructions of Kim Jong Il.

Fireworks were displayed in the sky above the secret camp to present fantastic scenery in the deep forest at night. The participants broke into loud shouts of “hurrah!” watching them.

 

A Cadre Looks at 70

Synchronized swimmers spell out the month and date of Kim Cho'ng-il's birthday as part of their annual performance at the Changgwang Health Complex in central Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Wednesday [16 February] marked Kim Cho’ng-il’s birthday.  In the Party History Institute’s official chronicle, Kim Cho’ng-il was born February 1942 in a wooden house near Mt. Paektu.  Unofficial accounts say that KCI was born in a Russian military base in Siberia in February 1941.  The DPRK media reported birthday messages sent by, among others, Iran, Syria and Cuba.  KCI celebrated by attending a performance of the Merited State Choir with other members of the central leadership.  KCNA reports:

He warmly acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of the audience and heartily congratulated them who are devoting themselves to the defence of the country and the prosperity of the socialist country, upholding the songun revolutionary leadership of the party.

The chorus’s colorful performance included “Glory to Our Great Party,” “Snow-covered Birthplace,” Spring Rays of Love” and “Push Back the Frontiers of Latest Science and Technology.”

Through the performance pervaded with militant spirit, the chorus truthfully represented the undying leadership feats of Kim Jong Il and the iron faith and will of the army and the people to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche, following him single-mindedly.

At the end of the performance he waved back to the enthusiastically cheering performers and audience and congratulated the artistes on their successful performance.

He expressed great satisfaction over the splendid performance pervaded with the faith and will of the DPRK and the revolutionary soldier spirit given by the artistes of the State Merited Chorus.  He highly appreciated their success in the presentation and extended thanks to them.

Kim Cho'ng-il and sister Kim Kyo'ng-hu'i in 1951.

Photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Feb. 16, 2011 shows a meeting celebrating the 69th birthday of Kim Jong Il, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang, capital of DPRK. (Xinhua/KCNA)

On 15 February [Tuesday], Chang So’ng-t’aek and other members of the central leadership sat on a rostrum at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium for a report meeting commemorating KCI’s birthday.  Up and coming DPRK elite, Mun Kyo’ng-t’ok presided over the meeting at which SPA Presidium President Kim Yo’ng-nam read a report, which included invoking “deterrents” (including nuclear deterrents):

He said that the birth of Kim Jong Il in Mt. Paektu, sacred mountain of the revolution, was the greatest fortune of the Korean nation that promised the rosy future of the revolutionary cause of juche. It was also a world historic event that opened the bright future of the human cause of independence, he added.

Thanks to this auspicious birthday of Kim Jong Il, great man born of Heaven, the Korean people could demonstrate the dignity and honor of Kim Il Sung’s nation which steers the era of independence in the grim tempest of history and advance to victory the revolutionary cause of Juche, blessed with the illustrious leaders generation after generation, he said and went on: The Workers’ Party of Korea and the DPRK are shedding rays as Kim Il Sung’s party and state and have achieved the single-minded unity in which the army and people are rallied close around the party.  This helped remarkably strengthen the driving force of the revolution and firmly consolidate the politico-ideological position.  This is the precious fruition of Kim Jong Il’s distinguished political caliber.

The reporter underlined the need for all the party members, service personnel and other people to remain loyal to the monolithic leadership of Kim Jong Il and thoroughly implement the behests of Kim Il Sung, thus build a great prosperous and powerful nation in all fields, bring earlier the national reunification and accomplish the revolutionary cause of juche.

A member of the KPA ties a kerchief around at an initiation ceremony of KISYL (Photo: KCNA)

A meeting of the Kim Il-so'ng Youth League and its affiliated organizations at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium (Photo: KCNA)

The subdued birthday celebrations this year included the usual synchronized swimming, a figure skating show, loyalty meetings of workers’ organizations and the Kimjongilia exhibition.  Kyodo reported that the annual synchronized swimming performance included a routine choreographed to the tune of “Footsteps,” a song about hereditary succession.   The Kim Il-so’ng Youth League and Korean Children’s Union conducted its annual initiation meetings, as well as its study tour to Mt. Paektu.  On 15 February, NDC Vice Chairman and Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, Kim Yo’ng-ch’un (KPA VMar) and Vice Minister of the PAF, Pak Chae-kyo’ng, hosted a reception for Pyongyang-based military attaches.

Pyongyang—The DPRK Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces hosted a reception for the military attaches corps here on Tuesday on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.

Present there on invitation were members of the corps headed by Sun Yanfeng, military, naval and air attaché of the Chinese embassy.

Minister Kim Yong Chun, Vice Minister Pak Jae Gyong and generals and other officers of the Korean People’s Army were on hand.

Speeches were made at the reception.

A public dancing party of Pyongyangites held in celebration of Kim Cho'ng-il's birthday outside the 25 April House of Culture. According to one report in the ROK press, Kim Cho'ng-u'n, was nominated as an NDC Vice Chairman at this venue at a meeting in early February this year (Photo: KCNA)

During last year’s birthday celebrations, the DPRK media featured a detailed story about helicopters traveling to geographically remote places in the country to deliver gifts to families and children.  This year, with rumors of hungry KPA service members scavenging DPRK communities for food, KCI’s practice of indok politics may have been limited to islands in the West Sea [Yellow Sea]:

Airplanes flew to eight isolated islets in the West Sea of Korea Monday, carrying gifts of leader Kim Jong Il to the students and children there.

They are So, Jamae, Sok, Suun, Rap, Taehwa, Ka and Than Islets.

Airplanes with gifts on board to fly to the islets on the occasion of Kim Jong Il’s birthday every year.

One aspect of Kim Cho’ng-il’s birthday celebration that goes unreported by the DPRK media is the presentation of cash and other assets to KCI by members of the central leadership (or the foreign currency earners who reside in their patronage networks) in the form of loyalty gifts.  Those gifts are historically managed by an entity within the KWP’s CC Secretariat apparatus called Office #38.

Some Pyongyang watchers believe that Han Kwang-sang (highlighted) in attendance at Kim Cho'ng-il's tour of the Hyangsan Hotel in January 2010, manages Office #38. (Photo: KCNA)

During 2009 and 2010 many Pyongyang watchers believed that Office #38 formally merged with Office #39 (although they still seemed to operate separately from one another).  With the emergence of Ch’on Il-ch’un (Office #39′s deputy director) in early 2010, Yi Ch’ol (Ri Chol)’s return to Pyongyang in April 2010 and increasing activity connected to the hereditary succession campaign, Office #38 once again became its own entity around June 2010.  Yonhap reports that ROK-based Pyongyang watchers now believe that Office #38 is once again severed from Office #39.

Office 38, whose chief remains unknown, mainly oversees transactions involving foreign currency, hotels and trade, the official said, while Office 39, headed by Jon Il-chun, drives revenue by dealing in narcotics, arms, natural resources and others.

A source privy to North Korea matters said the spin-off suggests that North Korea has been experiencing difficulties in earning foreign currency since merging the two offices.

“Efficiency was probably compromised after the two, which have different functions, were combined,” the source said, declining to be identified citing the speculative nature of the topic.

“More importantly, it seems related to the current state of foreign currency stocks. The North is apparently trying to address those difficulties.”

A person believed to be Kim Cho'ng-ch'o'l with a woman (R) believed to be his wife in attendance at Eric Clapton's 14 February 2011 concert at Singapore Indoor Stadium (Photo: Yonhap)

Interestingly, among Office #38′s various tasks, one was making logistical and security arrangements for KCI’s family members when they traveled outside the country.  Late arrivals to KCI’s private birthday celebration were his second-oldest son, Kim Cho’ng-ch’o'l, and his youngest known child, Kim Yo’-cho’ng.  Cho’ng-ch’o'l was photographed by KBS attending an Eric Clapton concert in Singapore.  Also observed by KBS was a woman believed to be Cho’ng-ch’o'l’s wife.  His Cream, No Sugar tour of Singapore reportedly included excursions to luxury shops, jewelers and tourism.  Yonhap reports about Cho’ng-ch’o'l’s return trip to the DPRK:

“As far as I know, Kim Jong-chol did not stay in Beijing. He headed straight to Pyongyang via China from Singapore” on Tuesday, a source in the Chinese capital said, adding that Kim appears to have taken a flight by North Korea’s national airline, Air Koryo.

Kim, believed to be 30, was on a personal visit to Singapore and is believed to have spent most of the time shopping and sightseeing, including a visit to the island of Sentosa, before leaving on Tuesday, sources there said.

South Korean broadcaster KBS on Tuesday broadcast the footage of Kim enjoying a Clapton concert held on Monday in Singapore. Kim was seen with a young woman at the concert, and sources said that it was his 24-year-old sister, Kim Yo-jong. The two went to a Swiss school together in the 1990s.

A figure who resembles Kim Cho'ng-il's youngest child, daughter Kim Yo'-cho'ng in attendance at Eric Clapton's 14 February 2011 concert at Singapore Indoor Stadium (Photo: Yonhap)

Jong Un’s Publicity Campaign

The DPRK is reportedly stepping up its publicity campaign in support of the hereditary succession of Kim Jong Un.  Previous reports about Jong Un propaganda efforts claimed that several million official portraits were produced for distribution to DPRK citizens.  In January of this year, events were held to celebrate Kim Jong Un’s official 8 January birthday.  There have also been reports that a Jong Un historic site was under construction, along with a railway line extension, in Kangdong County, Pyongyang.

Korea Times citing Open Radio for North Korea reports that a permanent museum exhibition about Kim Jong Un was completed in Pyongyang.

The Open Radio for North Korea, a Seoul-based broadcaster, reported Tuesday that the Joseon Revolutionary Museum in Pyongyang opened up a brand new permanent exhibition on Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il’s third son, in a move to build up a personality cult as a leader.

Quoting an anonymous source from North Korea, the radio said the “Kim Jong-un Room” filled with photos of him in uniform and other items was opened in July, and top party and military officials visited there.

“It will probably open to the public next year around his birthday which is Jan. 8,” the source was quoted as saying.

Kim Jong Un attending a commemorative photo session at Kumsusan in September 2010 (Photo: KCNA)

Chosun Ilbo citing RFA reports about a television documentary extolling Kim Jong Un’s intellectual and management abilities, aired as part of celebrations for the 65th anniversary of the Korean Workers’ Party.  Another anecdote concerns the distribution by the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea of a  publication on Jong Un’s agricultural abilities.  Jong Un has been observed as a member of KJI retinue throughout 2009.

“According to the program, Kim Jong-un is a genius with a thorough knowledge of politics, the economy, culture, history and military affairs and is able to speak many foreign languages,” the source said. It said he mastered English, German, French and Italian during his studies abroad and is learning Chinese, Japanese and Russian despite his busy schedule helping his father lead the country.”

The broadcast also claimed North Korea became a “self-sufficient” nuclear power because of Kim Jong-un’s firm resolve to build up the North’s ability to counter other nuclear powers with equal strength. According to the broadcast, Kim realized the importance of nuclear weapons when he learned about the wars launched by the U.S. and its “imperialist allies.”

Another source from North Hamgyong Province said the federation of farmers passed out material praising Kim Jong-un’s skills and urging farmers to create a new agricultural revolution under his guidance. “The material described an inspection trip by Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un to an agricultural commune in 2008, where the younger Kim surprised experts by spontaneously coming up with a microbial fertilizer that could improve the quality of soil,” the source said, and claimed farmers who used it were able to “miraculously” harvest 15 tons of wheat per 9,917 sq. m of farmland.