The Kim family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since its founding after World War II
North Korea has released a new song praising leader Kim Jong Un as a “friendly father” and “great leader” in what appears to be part of a propaganda campaign to boost his standing in the reclusive country.
The song’s music video aired on state-controlled North Korea’s Central Television on Wednesday.
In the song, North Koreans from various backgrounds, from children to military and medical personnel, enthusiastically sing “Let us sing, Kim Jong Un, the great leader” and “Let us brag about Kim Jong Un, a friendly father.”
Kim Jong Un watched a live performance of the song, accompanied by an orchestra and broadcast on state television, as part of a ceremony to mark the completion of 10,000 new homes.
The Kim family dynasty, which has ruled North Korea since its founding after World War II, has sought to tighten its grip on power by building a cult of personality around the country.
The release of the upbeat song, titled “Friendly Father,” comes as North Korea’s state media recently changed the name of a public holiday, sparking speculation that the move is part of an effort to bolster Kim Jong Un’s position.
State media stopped referring to the annual public holiday celebrating the birth of the country’s founder Kim Il Sung as “Sun Day” and began referring to it as the more neutral “April Holiday.”
An official at South Korea’s Unification Ministry said the changes could be part of Kim’s efforts to become self-reliant without relying on his predecessors.
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