Kim Jong-un's First Public Activity This Year Is Paying Respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un has begun his first public activity of the year.
On the 2nd, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "Respected Comrade Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on January 1st, marking the New Year of Juche 111 (2022)."
According to the news agency, Chairman Kim visited the 'Eternal Life Hall' where the bodies of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il lie, and flower baskets bearing the names of Chairman Kim, the Party Central Committee, the State Affairs Commission, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, and the Cabinet were placed before the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Additionally, Chairman Kim took commemorative photos at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun the previous morning with those who contributed to the implementation of the Party Congress decisions and with innovators who made efforts.
The visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun is Chairman Kim's first public activity of the year. Since coming to power, except for 2018, he has paid respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun every New Year's Day from 2013 through last year, and in 2017, his wife Ri Sol-ju accompanied him.
However, on January 1, 2018, Chairman Kim did not pay respects; instead, Choe Ryong-hae, then Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party and Director of the Organization and Guidance Department, Kim Yong-nam, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, and other key officials participated.
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This year's visit was accompanied by Politburo Standing Committee members Choe Ryong-hae, Jo Yong-won, Kim Tok-hun, and Pak Jong-chon, along with officials from the Party Central Leadership. Party Secretaries Ri Il-hwan, Jeong Sang-hak, Oh Su-yong, and Tae Hyong-chol, Party United Front Department Head Kim Yong-chol, and Minister of Defense Ri Yong-gil paid respects in the second row. Kim Yo-jong, Chairman Kim's sister and Deputy Director of the Party, was seen standing at the far end of the third row during the visit.
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