PYONGYANG: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has once more forgone his traditional New Year's visit to the mausoleum of his late grandfather and father, marking the second consecutive year he has missed this annual ritual, according to state media reports on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which serves as North Korea's state media, reported that leading government and party officials, along with military commanders, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a site that holds the embalmed bodies of state founder Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il. Kim Jong-un, however, was notably absent from the list of attendees.
During the visit, participants vowed to continue their commitment to advancing the nation's prosperity under Kim Jong-un's leadership, as stated by the KCNA. The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, located in Pyongyang, is an important symbol of North Korean leadership and reverence for the Kim dynasty.
Since taking power in late 2011, Kim Jong-un had previously made it a point to visit the mausoleum on the first day of each year, with the exceptions being in 2018 and 2022. His recent absence is part of a broader trend; he has significantly reduced his visits to the mausoleum, skipping key anniversaries such as the birthdays and death anniversaries of both Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, as well as the anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Reports indicate that since 2022, Kim Jong-un has not been seen visiting the mausoleum on notable dates like Kim Jong-il's birthday on February 16 or Kim Il-sung's birthday on April 15. This shift in tradition raises questions about potential changes in North Korea's ceremonial practices under Kim Jong-un's rule.