Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, made his first direct address at the ruling Workers' Party's propaganda training session, which began in 2022. His emphasis on utilizing modern information and technology to block the influx of external ideologies and cultures has been noted as a significant move.
The state-run Rodong Sinmun reported on September 22 that Kim spoke at the closing ceremony of the third propaganda training session held the previous day.
Kim attended both the opening and closing ceremonies, urging a comprehensive innovation in propaganda efforts. He stated, “Our party's propaganda work must change significantly and become more advanced, profound, and effective than in the past.”
He specifically called for enhancing the speed and effectiveness of propaganda education and emphasized the need to utilize modern information and technological means to thoroughly crush the dissemination of reactionary ideologies and cultures.
While North Korea has repeatedly warned against the influx of external cultures and anti-socialist phenomena, Kim's direct emphasis on using information and communication technology for this purpose is seen as unusual.
As North Korea expands mobilization efforts among its citizens to implement various tasks following the 9th Party Congress, this training session appears aimed at strengthening ideological indoctrination and internal cohesion among the populace.
A Unification Ministry official noted, “This is the first time Kim Jong Un has directly attended and spoken at the propaganda training session since he took power.”
The official added, “In his two speeches, Kim emphasized the supremacy of ideology, highlighting the importance of strengthening and innovating propaganda work. This seems to underscore the significance of ideological unity in advancing national policies presented at the 9th Party Congress.”
The official also remarked that while there have been previous mentions of reactionary ideologies and anti-socialist phenomena, the call to block them using modern information and technological means is a new development that will be closely monitored.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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