SEOUL, North Korea appears to be idolizing leader Kim Jong-un, modeling him after his grandfather and national founder Kim Il-sung, in an effort to strengthen internal unity amid prolonged economic difficulties, South Korea’s unification ministry said Thursday.

The assessment came as analysts have suggested that circumstances in the North are becoming unfavorable for maintaining the regime amid economic difficulties over U.N. sanctions on its nuclear and missile programs.

An official at the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs told reporters that the North’s growing efforts to embolden Kim’s status by depicting him as a “wartime top commander,” “father of the great socialist family” and “ideological leader” are “proof” of such difficulties.

“North Korea is in a tough situation due to economic woes and inflow of outside culture. It seems that Kim is under pressure to do something, and he is trying to find the answer from the Kim Il-sung era,” the official said, adding that Kim likely opted for his gra
ndfather’s era over his father’s due to better economic circumstances in the former.

The official noted how Kim appears to be using rhetoric similar to that used by his late grandfather, who called for unification through military means in 1948, such as vowing to “suppress” the whole territory of South Korea in the event of war during a year-end meeting.

North Korea also seems to be bolstering Kim’s fatherly image by releasing more photos of the leader being accompanied by his teen daughter, known as Ju-ae, and attending an event for students on the first day of the new year.

Kim’s attendance at the event marked the first such visit by a North Korean leader in 30 years since 1994, when late leader Kim Il-sung attended the New Year’s Day performance of students on the first day of the year.

Under a concept proposed by Kim Il-sung in 1962, North Korea incorporates the metaphor of a family by describing the relationship among the leader, the party and the people as that among a father, a mother and a child.

O
n the North’s recent emphasis on developing regional economies, the official said such a plan is also part of wider efforts to soothe public discontent over a widening economic gap between the capital and rural areas.

“North Korea is likely to focus on completing the construction of the exteriors of food and consumer goods factories until the 9th Congress of the Worker’s Party of Korea, set for 2026,” the official said.

“But it is questionable whether such a policy push is sustainable amid a lack of resources and equipment and insufficient raw materials and power supply.”

This composite image of photos from the Rodong Sinmun, the North’s main newspaper, provided by the unification ministry, shows North Korea’s late founder Kim Il-sung (center L) and his grandson and incumbent leader Kim Jong-un (center R) attending a performance of students marking New Year’s Day in 1994 and 2024, respectively. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Source: Yonhap News Agency