Border Patrol at the Border of Sino-North Korea (Reference Photo)
2017/Apr/14
Many foreign media, including Japanese newspapers and broadcasting stations, started reporting right after arriving at Pyongyang, where the celebration of the biggest holiday for North Korea, the Sun Day, would be held. They report that celebratory atmosphere calmly prevail in neatly decorated Pyongyang.
It is a conventional propaganda strategy of North Korean regime to let foreign media cover their big ceremony like this. On the day of 13th the media were guided to ‘Ryomyong Street’ with skyscraper apartments which had been rushed to finish by Kim Jong-un’s urge. It is expected that the media would cover the preannounced military parade (North Korea calls it ‘military review’).
Kim Jong-un regime has two major targets. The first is to show that the North Koreans with unanimity under Kim Jong-un’s leadership are achieving economic progress without difficulties, although there have been pressures by the joint drill of US-Korean military and the economic sanction of the international community. The second is to make it clear that the North Korean government would continue developing nuclear bomb and missiles by showing off new weapons like new missile in the military parade. It is the strategy of media and image making in their own way.
However, even if the Japanese media in Pyongyang report “celebrating mood without tension,” the reality is absolutely different. The militia organizations have been mobilized for vigilance from the early April and the ordinary people have also been forced to join military drill every day. It seems that the order to shoot drones remains in effect from March.
-As the joint drill of US and South Korean military continues, we are nervous about a war tobe imminent. Orders to prepare mobilization were given to organizations and enterprises. Reserve Army, Red Army of Laborers and Peasants, and Army of Red Youth started drills. It is urgent drill of civilian military power.
* Reserve Army; is equipped with weapons equivalent to an Infantry Army Division. Red Army of Laborers and Peasants; consists of middle and old male and unmarried female. Army of Red Youth; consists of 5-6th senior high school students (16-17 years old)
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