North Korea: "Our dignity and status have reached the highest level"

Daily Rodong Sinmun and Monthly Geulloja Joint Editorial
Highlighting Kim Jong Un's Dedication to Soothe Public Sentiment

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, presiding over the expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party on the 23rd of last month.

Amid North Korea's sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic situation, North Korea has sought to rally public sentiment by highlighting Chairman Kim Jong Un's dedication and emphasizing the will to protect the regime through a joint editorial by the Party's official organs.

The Workers' Party organ Rodong Sinmun and the monthly political theory magazine Geunroja on the 2nd published a lengthy joint editorial titled "Our Party's Politics is Politics of Putting the People First," asserting that "Comrade Kim Jong Un's politics is thoroughly people-centered and a politics of passionate love for the people."

This is the fifth time since Kim Jong Un's rise to power that Rodong Sinmun and Geunroja have released a joint editorial, following those in March 2017 ("Our Style of Socialist Victory is Science"), July 2019 ("Self-Reliance is the Eternal Lifeline of the Korean Revolution"), September 2019 ("We Will Prosper Eternally as a Dignified People's Country"), and January 2020 ("Let Us Break Through the Difficult Situation Created by the Baekdu Mountain Attack Spirit").

North Korea has consistently used joint editorials by Party organs to consolidate the regime and rally public sentiment whenever facing internal and external difficulties.

The editorial claimed, "The political creed of the Marshal (Kim Jong Un) is that anyone who rules over the people and infringes upon their interests must be mercilessly punished, regardless of their position or merits."

By mentioning strong punishment for corrupt officials and their 'gapjil' (abuse of power) behaviors, which have caused significant public dissatisfaction, Chairman Kim emphasized his dedication to the people and politics of caring for the populace, thereby soothing public sentiment.

The editorial continued, "There can be no concession or risk-taking even by the slightest margin when it comes to issues related to the people's life and safety," highlighting Kim's swift response, such as convening the Party Political Bureau meeting immediately after the COVID-19 outbreak.

It also underscored Kim Jong Un's role as the 'protector of the regime.'

The editorial emphasized, "Under the independent politics of the Supreme Leader, the initiative and control over the overall situation have been firmly grasped in our hands, and the dignity and prestige of our state have reached the highest level, with all affairs being vigorously advanced according to the plans and schedules foreseen and strategized by our Party."

It explained, "No matter how difficult it is, there must be no deviation or compromise even by an inch from fundamental principles and fundamental interests," adding, "Our Marshal's conviction and courage are that we must follow only the Juche path and never exchange the dignity of the state for rice grains or money."

The editorial also mentioned 'Juche weapons' and 'the strongest national defense power,' noting that overall national strength has been enhanced through Kim Jong Un's dedication.

This joint editorial, spanning 10,900 characters, was published on the entire front page of Rodong Sinmun. It is interpreted as an effort to soothe public sentiment exhausted by prolonged sanctions and the unexpected COVID-19 crisis this year, and to seek internal unity. It also reaffirms the determination to protect the regime without yielding to immediate hardships through the format of a joint editorial, sending a message both domestically and internationally.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.