“Comrades,

As I am standing here to proclaim the beginning of another year, I feel a surge of anxiety about what I should do to hold our people in greater reverence, the best people in the world who have warmly supported me with a single mind out of their firm trust in me.

My desires were burning all the time, but I spent the past year feeling anxious and remorseful for the lack of my ability. I am hardening my resolve to seek more tasks for the sake of the people this year and make redoubled, devoted efforts to this end.

Previously, all the people used to sing the song “We Are the Happiest in the World,” feeling optimistic about the future with confidence in the great Comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. I will work with devotion to ensure that the past era does not remain as a moment in history but is re-presented in the present era. On this first morning of the new year I swear to become a true servant loyal to our people who faithfully supports them with a pure conscience.”

[New Year address made by Kim Jong-un, published by the Korean Central News Agency on the first of January 2017(English)]

In North Korea, there is a “principle of a leader as inerrancy.”  Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un have never been criticized by any media.  It is “impossible” for them to make a mistake.  Instead, high-ranking officials are always responsible for a failure, severely punished in some cases.

How did North Koreans think about the Kim Jong-un’s self-criticism?

A: “Due to the self-criticism, the Provisional People’s Committee for North Korea high-ranking told officials to submit “self-criticism papers.”  They needed to write down what went wrong or successful, as well as New Year’s resolutions.  “I will work with devotion,” (said by Kim Jong-un), meant to put a tighter control (on people).  He doesn’t do anything good.  I just want him to loosen the regulation.  Since everyone is making a living out of business at present, less control would make our businesses a bit easier.”

Furthermore, the New Year’s address had a slogan called “self-reliance and self-development.” It intends to bolster the economy and industries based on domestic resources, power generations, and technologies without depending on foreign countries.

A: “Speaking of “self-reliance and self-development,” it is ironic that merchants have sustained the North Korean economy while government officials have not taken any actions.”  Aunties doing businesses at markets have played the vital role in the North Korean economy.  What has the government achieved?  Without the market economy, (the North Korean economy) would collapse.”

Another reporting partner, B, also told me that she could not watch the speech on TV due to a blackout.

B: “Even without the blackout, no one wants to watch such a boring address.  It is not a movie.  Due to the "self-criticism" in the speech, high-ranking officials were forced to write self-criticism papers and New Year’s resolutions.

Appendix:

Kim Jong-un’s birthday is the eighth of January.  Till now, North Korea government has not disclosed his birthday.  The South Korean government estimates that he was born in 1984.  If it is true, he is 33 years old.  According to B, each organization has started to hold a “meeting of loyalty” to celebrate the birthday.  Since this kind of event had never been taken place before, there is a concern that the idealization of Kim Jong-un may be accelerated.

Related article
Bank Card and ATM Appear in Local Cities. Split Responses; “Convenient” and “Still Can’t Trust the Government.”
<Inside N. Korea> Worsened power supply paralyzed the train system, reportedly causing deaths in a stopped train
Drastic Increase of Inmates at “Labor Training Camps”: “People Dying of Malnutrition and Physical Abuse”, a Former Inmate Testifies.

rimjingang_banner001Editor’s notes on North Korean reporters
ALL REPORTS >>>

ARCHIVE(pdf) >>
DPRK MAP >>

RECOMMENDATIONS