North Korean officials made a rare public display by wearing pins adorned with a portrait of Kim Jong Un for the first time, as shown in pictures released by state media on Sunday. This marks a significant development in the cultivation of a cult of personality around the North Korean leader. The officials, who were part of a key meeting chaired by Kim in the reclusive state’s ruling party, were seen wearing the typical party logo pin on their right lapel, and on the left chest, the pin featured Kim’s face against a flag-shaped red background.
The 10th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which evaluates the party’s performance for the first half of the year, commenced on Friday, as reported by the state news agency KCNA. The Kim dynasty, which has been in power in North Korea since its establishment after World War Two, has consistently endeavored to fortify its hold on power by propagating cults of personality around its leaders.
In a bid to solidify Kim Jong Un’s stature as a leader standing on par with his father and grandfather, North Korean media recently published photographs showcasing his portrait prominently displayed alongside those of Kim Jong Il and national patriarch Kim Il Sung. Earlier this year, a music video praising Kim Jong Un as a “friendly father” and a “great leader” was broadcast on the state-controlled Korean Central Television, despite being banned by South Korea.
This latest display of homage towards Kim by North Korean officials underlines the ongoing efforts to strengthen his image and authority within the reclusive state. The move serves to reinforce the cult-like following that has been meticulously cultivated around the leader, signaling a continued focus on consolidating his position of power and influence within North Korea’s political landscape.
