North Korea has placed a large number of propaganda slogans and catchphrases all over the country to help build up the personality cult of its leader Kim Jong-un.
Detailed examination by Yonhap News Agency of some 1,000 pictures taken from May 4 to 24 in Pyongyang and Sinuiju, revealed that the reclusive country is focusing on idolizing Kim. The photos were obtained by Yonhap through a third source.
The incumbent leader took power following the sudden death of his father in late 2011.
The communist country proclaimed a "Kim Jong-un era" at the recently held congress of the Workers' Party of Korea. He was named the new chairman of the WPK.
The propaganda slogan appears to be in line with the country's past practice of making its leader into a glorified being, which is the case with North Korean founder Kim Il-sung and the late leader Kim Jong-il.
Among the pictures taken, one shows a sign placed on top of a public organization which reads, "Hurrah, General Kim Jong-un, the Sun of the Songun (military-first) Korea!."
Similar phrases expressing gratitude to the North Korean leader were found at an elementary school and a childcare center in Pyongyang which read, "Thank you, dear general Kim Jong-un."
At the science and technology hall in the capital city, Kim's speech appears on an LCD screen, saying, "We should make efforts for the development of information technology to the level of state-of-the-art."
Related to the idolization drive, a Hong Kong-based TV station reported from Pyongyang last month that slogans and catchphrases heralding the Kim Jong-un era were prominently on display at some of the state-run factories in the North Korean capital.
The station said the North had already used the propaganda slogan "Kim Jong-un era" even before the landmark WPK congress held earlier last month.
In addition, there were photos showing various slogans and catchphrases such as "For the accomplishments of the decisions made at the 7th congress of the WPK," or "Let's advance the date of the final victory of the juche (self-reliance) revolution by exerting the utmost efforts for the accomplishment of the tasks decided at the party congress." (Yonhap)
