North Korea Celebrates Kim Il Sung's Birthday, Sends $2 Million Aid to Chongryon

North Korea celebrated the 112th birth anniversary of its founding leader Kim Il Sung on Monday, known as the Day of the Sun. State media reported that the country sent $2 million in aid to the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) to mark the occasion.

The aid was provided to help Chongryon amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and economic difficulties. North Korea has long supported the organization, which represents the interests of ethnic Koreans in Japan and serves as an important diplomatic and financial conduit between Pyongyang and this community.

The celebration of Kim Il Sung's birthday is a major national holiday in North Korea, typically marked with various events and displays of loyalty to the ruling Kim family. However, state media used alternative names like "April holiday" this year, potentially in an effort to reinforce current leader Kim Jong Un's personality cult and downplay his grandfather's legacy.

Why this matters: The celebration and aid to Chongryon highlight the importance North Korea places on maintaining ties with the pro-Pyongyang Korean community in Japan. The subtle shift in referring to the holiday may also signal Kim Jong Un's efforts to further establish his own authority and standing in the country.

In addition to the aid sent to Chongryon, North Korea has recently released a new song praising Kim Jong Un, calling him a "friendly father" and "great leader." The song's music video and live performance were aired on state television as part of a ceremony marking the completion of 10,000 new homes, appearing to be part of a propaganda drive to enhance Kim's standing in the reclusive state.

Key Takeaways

• North Korea celebrated Kim Il Sung's 112th birthday, known as the Day of the Sun.
• North Korea sent $2 million in aid to the pro-Pyongyang Chongryon group in Japan.
• State media used alternative names like "April holiday" to downplay Kim Il Sung's legacy.
• North Korea released a new song praising current leader Kim Jong Un.
• The aid and song aim to maintain ties with the pro-Pyongyang Korean community in Japan.