NK leader erasing memories of family

A video of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, top, is played during a concert by the Moranbong Band in September 2014 file photo, while the above photo, taken in April of this year, shows incumbent leader Kim Jong-un at a concert by the same group. Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

• Published Jul 13, 2015 4:43 PM KST
• Updated Jul 13, 2015 4:43 PM KST

Kim Jong-un moves to make himself man of the moment

By Yi Whan-woo

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is breaking the old rules that have been essential for the reclusive regime to maintain its culture of veneration and near-worship of the Kim dynasty for decades.

It has been common in the secretive state to play video footage and hang mega-sized portraits of the late Kim Il-sung and the late Kim Jong-il at pop concerts and public places.

North Koreans, brainwashed by their repressive government, also wear badges featuring faces of the two late dictators.

However, Kim Jong-un, in his 30s, has stopped doing this recently to make him more publicly prominent than his father and grandfather, according to analysts.

North Korea showed only video footage of its young leader on giant screens above a stage during a Moranbong Band concert in April.

This band is Kim Jong-un’s favorite mini-skirted girl group, comprised of a dozen beauties in their 20s. They sing, dance and play various musical instruments such as electric violins, cellos, keyboards and drums.

The band was formed in July 2012 under the order of the young dictator, who succeeded his father, Kim Jong-il, in December 2011.

Since then, the band has held more than 20 concerts in front of officials and foreign guests, at a variety of events, including national holidays, accompanied by video footage of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.

“The Moranbong Band’s concerts are not just for entertainment ― they have served as a means to propagandize the Kim Dynasty, and Kim Jong-un is seeking to change this propaganda style,” said University of North Korean Studies Professor Yang Moo-jin.

“He is concerned that stressing the achievements of his grandfather and father too much may be unhelpful in solidifying his status.”

An Chan-il, head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, agreed.

“Kim Jong-in is trying to break with the past, to avoid being overshadowed by the legacy of his predecessors and to open his era,” he said.

Yang pointed out North Korea removed a giant portrait of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather and founder of the communist nation, at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport on July 1 during the opening of a second terminal.

This terminal is about six times larger than the other terminal, which had served as the country’s main gateway.

The impoverished regime is believed to have initially begun building the second terminal as part of projects to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, who was born on April 15, 1912.

“North Korea is one of the few remaining countries, such as Iran, which have hung portraits of their late founders or dictators on at their airports for foreign visitors to see upon their arrival,” Yang said.

“Kim Jong-un knows such a practice is outdated. He wants to make an impression that his country is seeking change and reform for the future.”

The incumbent dictator was seen not wearing badges featuring faces of his grandfather and father in a photo taken on July 8 during his visit to Kim Il-sung’s grave on the 21st anniversary of his death.

Kim Jong-un also did not wear the badges on eight of his 14 trips to rural areas in June, according to sources familiar with North Korea.

“Those badges have been symbols of deification of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il,” Yang said. “Kim Jong-un now wants to make clear that he is geared toward change.”

Yang was skeptical about recent reports that North Korea will produce badges featuring the faces of all three leaders.

“It is too early to predict, but if produced, such badges are likely to feature only the face of Kim Jong-un,” he said.