"Tears Flowing from the Supreme Leader"... North Korea Accelerates 'Kim Jong-un Idolization'

Kim Jong-un, Only in His 30s, Called 'Father' Even by Youth
Use of Leader Titles Surges Since 2020... Accelerating Idolization
Unification Ministry: "A Model of Emotional Politics by a Dictator"

North Korea is accelerating the 'Kim Jong-un idolization.' Even adult residents are being made to call Kim Jong-un, the State Affairs Commission Chairman who is only in his 30s, 'father,' continuing the deification similar to previous leaders. In particular, Kim Jong-un's recent 'tearful politics' has drawn attention, with the government criticizing it as 'the emotional politics of a dictator.'

A Ministry of Unification official told reporters on the 17th that the title 'Suryong' (Leader) referring to Kim Jong-un was used 26 times in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper from the beginning of this year until last month. The title 'Suryong' in North Korea is a representative indicator of the idolization of the Kim family.

Kim Jong-un shedding tears at the military parade

The title 'Suryong' for Kim Jong-un first appeared in 2018 and was used four times in 2020. In 2021, it surged to 16 times, and last year it was used 23 times. This year, in just seven months, the number of uses has already surpassed last year's total, showing that the formula 'Kim Jong-un = Suryong' has taken root. It was also analyzed that modifiers such as ▲People's ▲Outstanding ▲Excellent were attached before the title 'Suryong' referring to Kim Jong-un, and expressions like 'Great Leader,' similar to Kim Il-sung, were also used.

The use of the title 'father' is also increasing. The expansion of those calling Kim Jong-un, who is not even 40 years old, 'father' from children to youth since the end of last year is also interpreted as a move to emphasize idolization.

Kim Jong-un handling a rifle

Another notable point is that recently Kim Jong-un has frequently been shown shedding tears at military parades, funerals, performances, and various on-site guidance events. Up to this day, about 10 instances of Kim Jong-un's 'tearful politics' have been captured only through state-run media. This is interpreted as North Korea's intention to highlight him as a 'leader who cares for the people.'

The Ministry of Unification official asserted about Kim Jong-un's tears, "It is a model of the emotional politics of a dictator." He added, "In the early days of Kim Jong-un's rule, he said he would not use mythical expressions like 'Kim Il-sung's chukjibeop (instantaneous movement),' but in the end, he has applied expressions such as 'Great Leader,' 'Father,' and 'Sun' to himself, moving toward idolization just like his predecessors."

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