In response to the reappearance of Pyongyang’s leader Kim
Jong Eun from his 40-day seclusion, North Koreans had an array of different
reactions.
The Chosun Workers’ Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, issued
images on the 14th of the leader visiting a residential complex in the Wisong District of
Pyongyang built for scientists, revealing Kim holding on to a cane in his left
hand. The fixed cable ‘Third Broadcast’ system, which only the North Korean
people are exposed to, also ran news of Kim’s “field guidance” to the Wisong
Scientists Residential District from the morning hours.
However, the broadcaster did add that the leader made the
tour despite his “state of discomfort,” according to a source in North Hamgyung
Province.
What grabbed the attention of everyone was undoubtedly the
walking stick. “Never in the days of Suryeong Kim Il Sung or General Kim Jong Il
have we seen them walking with canes,” the source said. “So today everyone was
talking about it without exception.”
In the case of founder Kim Il Sung, although he died
suddenly from a heart attack, he was always shown in good health on state
media. Former leader Kim Jong Il did go through a period of ill health due to a
stroke in 2008, but until his death in 2011, North Korean media never ran
images of him using a cane or any other device for assistance.
According to the source, North Koreans are showing three
different responses to Kim Jong Eun’s state of reappearance.
“In public spaces, such as the Jangmadang [marketplace] or
enterprises, people are saying the leader has been on too many ‘field guidance
tours’ and that has caused him health problems,” the source said. “But among
close friends and family they are whispering that his leg is having problems
because he is too obese.”
“Our Marshal must be at least 100 kilograms,” people have
said about Kim Jong Eun’s physique, according to the source. “It’s very rare to
see anyone who has body type like the leader in this country [North Korea],”
the source said. This has caused people to say in public that “our leader has a
fine presence,” but in private they say, “what is it that he eats alone to make
his body like that.”
“A lot of people said after
seeing today’s newspaper that the media have changed their method of coverage, a source in Sinuiju reported. “Usually, it’s a rule that our papers do not report on
anything that is negative, but Rodong Sinmun disclosed our leader with his cane
unfiltered.” She elaborated that some residents have taken this as a sign that the papers in North Korea are trying to be more objective in their reporting.
“Coverage from today is significantly different from the
past [2009], where you would see young women from the Wangjaesan art troupe
kicking up their legs in short skirts on television,” the source added, noting
that the news seems far less sensational as of late. “I do feel a change in
broadcast and media coverage under the current leadership.”
However, a source from Yangkang Province told the Daily NK,
“Some people have questioned why they need to report things like this,”
suggesting a negative viewpoint towards the coverage depicting the leader with
a cane.
Some think if the leader is not well he should just focus on
recovery rather than getting involved in tasks that party cadre are more than
capable of looking after. Some have said, “Our leader is a human being and can
get sick here and there as well. If he insists on going out on field guidance
like that, it’s just going to cause his aides a lot of trouble,” according to
the source.
Others have said it’s unnecessary to show such images given
they emphasize the leader’s love for his people every day anyway. “Some say
back during the days of the Marshall they would say he went on field guidance
tours of ‘minimal sleep eating rice balls.’ Now it looks like they are going to
call it the ‘around the nation on a walking stick’ tour,” she said. “Many have
also said it was uncalled for to make such a trip to a project that only helps
benefit Party cadres.”
