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According to Seoul’s unification ministry, South Korea is keeping an eye on the prospect of North Korea staging a huge celebration to commemorate leader Kim Jong-coming un’s to power.
Kim Jong-il, Kim’s late father and former leader, died suddenly in December 2011.
During a regular press briefing, deputy ministry spokesman Cha Duck-chul said, “At this time, North Korea has not disclosed a plan for such a commemorative event.” “However, we will continue to monitor related actions because one needs to enhance internal unity and analyse the first year outcome of its five-year plan.”
It relates to the North’s economic development plan, which was announced in January during the country’s ninth party conference, during which Kim recognised that his previous development plan had failed and laid out a new one.
On the 10th anniversary of Kim’s accession to power, the North was seen continuing to boost his political standing.
The North has removed photos of Kim’s father and grandfather, past leaders Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung, from the backdrop of official meetings, according to the South Korean National Intelligence Service.
According to the spy agency, the North is also using the term Kimjongunism internally, similar to the former leaders’ Kimilsungism and Kimjongilism, and referring to Kim as “suryong,” a Korean word for leader that was formerly reserved for his predecessors.
According to Cha, the activities appear to be part of the North’s efforts to emphasise people’s commitment to Kim following the governing party’s endorsement of him as “general secretary” in January.
After giving a speech at a defence exhibition on Oct. 11, Kim has not made a public appearance in almost a month.
“We will continue to monitor moves linked to Kim’s public activities,” a ministry official said, adding that there have been other instances in which the North Korean leader’s activities have gone unreported for a long period in the state media.
