In an unexpected display of emotion, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has delivered a speech in which he asked for forgiveness from his own people and at one moment even cried openly. The speech focused on the ongoing CoVid-19 pandemic and the economic difficulties that North Koreans have had to face over recent months. Given as part of a ceremony to commemorate 75 years since the founding of the ruling Korean Workers Party, Jong-un removed his glasses to wipe tears from his eyes. The crowd also included vast swathes of crying dignitaries.
"Our people have placed trust, as high as the sky and as deep as the sea, in me, but I have failed to always live up to it satisfactorily. I am really sorry for that. Although I am entrusted with the important responsibility to lead this country, upholding the cause of the great Comrades Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il; thanks to the trust of all the people, my efforts and sincerity have not been sufficient enough to rid our people of the difficulties in their lives."
He added:
"I will ensure that all Party organisations, the government and power and military organs make more and more strict demands on themselves, direct strenuous efforts and work with sincerity for our people and for bringing a better tomorrow to them. Availing myself of this opportunity, I offer my heartfelt consolation to all those around the world who are still combating the disease caused by the malignant virus, and do hope from the bottom of my heart that health, happiness and laughter of all people would be guaranteed."
The statement was surprising as much of North Korean propaganda towards the outside world is based around hostility and fear, and it is unusual to see the leadership reach out with humanity.
Hong Min, director of the North Korea division at the Korean Institute for National Unification, analysed the speech for The Korea Times, a South Korean based newspaper. He said of Jong-un's speech:
"It is important to look at why he has come to shed tears at such an occasion. Underneath his message, one can sense that Kim is feeling a lot of pressure on his leadership. During the speech, he used terms like 'grave challenges', 'countless ordeals' and 'disasters unprecedented in history'. This shows that he is having a really hard time governing, and he feels pressured from worries that his people might be upset or swayed by this kind of difficulty. At the end of the speech, he calls on the people to extend their full support and trust in him. From this we can see at that he feels bad about the struggles of the people, but he also feels a lot of burden and stress from the situation and is highly concerned about the stability of his regime."
Various rumours have circulated about Kim Jong-un in recent months, including that he had died and been replaced by his sister. While it may be thought that North Korean leaders rule with complete power and impunity behind them lies the vested interests of the military leadership and the ruling party elite. Jong-un may very well be feeling that as the country becomes even more cut off due to the pandemic that he is liable to be removed in a coup should he not steer the country in a direction that the elites favour. North Korea remains the most unfree nation on Earth and most Western media is banned from entering.
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