North Korea: "Different from Capitalism... This is a Country Where Women Are Happy"

"Women Looked Down Upon in the US and Other Capitalist Countries"

North Korea Issues Greeting Cards to Celebrate 'Mother's Day' [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea, on the occasion of 'Mother's Day,' made the absurd claim that North Korean women are enjoying a happy life thanks to the Workers' Party's meticulous childcare policies.

The Workers' Party's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, on the 16th commemorated Mother's Day by reporting that a woman who gave birth to her tenth child last year was awarded the title of 'Labor Hero.' Along with this, it also published an interview with another woman who said, "Seeing my child begging to go to the daycare first thing in the morning, I can now devote myself to my work without worry."

North Korea commemorates March 8 every year as International Women's Day (3·8 International Women's Day) and November 16 as Mother's Day, holding events for married women and creating a celebratory atmosphere. However, the absurdity expressed on this day is evaluated as exposing the view that childcare is naturally the woman's responsibility, as it did not mention childcare policies applied to men.

The newspaper also argued, "In capitalist countries including the United States, women are despised and abused institutionally," and "women are unable to enjoy a true life as human beings and are even deprived of the right to become mothers."

North Korea Issues Greeting Cards to Celebrate 'Mother's Day' [Image Source=Yonhap News]

Especially in a front-page editorial titled 'Raising the Future of the Homeland is the Great Pride and Honor of Mothers,' it urged unity by stating, "The wish of mothers is simply that all of their children know the leader and become loyal soldiers to the homeland and revolution."

The newspaper emphasized, "From a young age, the seeds of patriotism must be planted in the hearts of children and nurtured with utmost devotion to grow into great trees," and "Sons and daughters must be raised excellently so that when they take up arms, they become warriors who can fight a hundred men, and when they hold a pen, they become world-class talents."

It continued, "Our beloved mothers consider it the greatest pride to push their beloved children into the battlefield that determines the victory or defeat and advance of the revolution, and to proudly place all their cherished sons and daughters at the sacred posts defending the homeland," and self-praised, "Because there are such true embodiments and possessors of maternal love, our revolutionary ranks have grown stronger as a great force of passionate loyalists and patriots."

It further praised, "On the march of the new Juche 100-year era, marked by the worst challenges and trials, the silent efforts and noble feats of mothers who put national affairs before household chores are clearly engraved."

The 'Juche 100-year era' refers to the period since Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, came to power in 2012. North Korea designates 1912, the birth year of President Kim Il-sung, as 'Juche Year 1,' using it alongside the Gregorian calendar. In April 2012, just one month after officially taking power, Kim Jong-un issued a decree through the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly to commemorate November 16 every year as Mother's Day.

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