Friday, 17 December 2021 (YJC)_ North Korea today (Friday) held the tenth anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death, calling for more people to be loyal to his son Kim Jong Un.
According to the Associated Press, Kim Jong Un has maintained the same absolute power of his father and grandfather over the country in the 10 years of his leadership since the death of his father Kim Jong Il. Despite the many economic shocks caused by measures to prevent the spread of the corona and US sanctions, Pyongyang shows no sign of political instability, and few foreign experts have questioned Kim Jong Un's rise to power.
But this long-term stability in North Korea could be called into question if young Kim fails to take fruitful steps to address the country's current problems and improve people's livelihoods.
In previous deaths, Kim Jong Un paid his respects at the tomb where Kim Jong Il's mummified body is buried along with Kim Il Sung's body. Kim Jong Un also held national meetings to honor his father on some important previous anniversaries, such as the first and fifth anniversaries.
He was expected to do the same this year, but North Korean state media did not report on Kim Jong Un's public activities on Friday morning. Government newspapers published articles honoring Kim Jong Il and calling for more alliance with Kim Jong Un, while state television aired propaganda songs and documentaries about the late leader.
The young Kim's father's death was celebrated as the North Korean leadership faced its most difficult period in North Korea due to the Corona Pandemic, the continuation of UN sanctions and mismanagement.
North Korea's trade with China, its largest trading and economic partner, fell about 80 percent last year and fell another two-thirds in the first nine months of this year. According to South Korean government estimates, the North Korean economy experienced its biggest contraction since 1997 last year, while grain production fell to its lowest level since young Kim took office.
Kim Jong Un is refusing to return to talks with Washington and Seoul, calling for a stronger, more self-centered economy and ordering tougher corporate sanctions.
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