Performances (L) and participants (R) at a meeting held by the Korean Democratic Women’s Union at the Women’s Hall in central Pyongyang on 14 February 2013 to commemorate Kim Jong Il’s birthday (Photos: KCNA)
DPRK state media reported 14 February (Thursday) that the Korean Democratic Women’s Union [KDWU; Democratic Women's Union of Korea; DWUK] and the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea [GFTUK] staged events at to commemorate Kim Jong Il’s birthday, also known as the Day of the Shining Star. The KDWU meeting occurred at the Women’s Hall, attended by Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Department Director of Workers’ Organization Ri Yong Su, Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee Kim Jin Ha, KDWU officials, KDWU members who reside in Pyongyang and “those who had the honor of being received by Kim Jong Il and those related to his revolutionary activities.”
The KDWU event included musical performances and speeches. The meeting “began with narration and chorus ‘February is Spring’” and was followed by a speech by Kim Yong Ok, manager of the Kwangbok Supermarket, who accompanied Kim Jong Il during the last public appearance before he died. Her speech “looked back upon the noble personality of Kim Jong Il who visited the supermarket on Dec. 15, 2011, providing important guidelines to be held fast to in the commercial service.” Members of the KDWU from Pot’onggang District spokes about how KJI “personally watched their performance and showed such great care as inviting them to take part in the annual contest among art groups of military families of the Korean People’s Army.” Among the performances at the meeting were “Yearning is Boundless,” “It is Thanks to Military-First [So'ngun] Politics Pursued by the General” and “Maxim of Our General.” Other testimonials, according to KCNA were given by Ri Chun Hui who “said in an excited tone that thanks to the loving care shown by Kim Jong Il, her daughter could have the honor and happiness of being a queen of marathon” and “Kim Thuk Sil, worker of Chilgol Restaurant, recounted the story that she has taken the lead in helping the army while Jo Sin Ok, room chief of the Pyongyang Floriculture Institute, vowed to bring about innovations in researches into flowers.”
Performance by members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea at the Central Workers’ Hall in eat Pyongyang on 14 February 2013 to commemorate Kim Jong Il’s birthday (Photos: KCNA)
The General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea held a similar meeting at the Central Workers’ Hall in east Pyongyang. The GFTUK meeting consisted mainly of a central report and speakers’ program. Vice Chairman of the GFTUK Central Committee Choe Su Dong delivered the report. According to KCNA the report and speeches “said that Kim Jong Il’s was the revolutionary life of a great revolutionary who explored an untrodden path with his iron will and superhuman energy under the uplifted red flag of the revolution and a peerless patriot who devoted his all to the country and its people” and KJI “unfolded a new chapter of accomplishing the cause of immortalizing President Kim Il Sung and made sure that his revolutionary life and feats are glorified forever with the prosperity of Chuch’e Korea.” The GFTUK speakers also noted that the “successful third underground nuclear test, in particular, was a historic event that demonstrated the might of socialist military power led by another Military-First (So’ngun) brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu” and that “thanks to the leadership of Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Il’s revolutionary life and immortal feats will shine long and his desire for building a thriving country become a brilliant reality.”
Outdoor meeting of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea at the Party’s Founding Memorial Tower on 13 February 2013 (Photo: KCNA)
On 13 February (Wednesday) DPRK state media reported that the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea [UAWK] held an outdoor meeting commemorating KJI’s birth at the Party Founding Memorial Tower in east Pyongyang. Attending the meeting were KWP Department Director Ri Yong Su along with “officials concerned, officials of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea and those in Pyongyang and agricultural workers.” UAWK Central Committee Chairman Ri Myang Gil delivered the official central report. According to KCNA, the central report and other meeting speakers said “Kim Jong Il demonstrated the dignity of the socialist country and performed the undying exploits on behalf of the era and history with intense loyalty to President Kim Il Sung and ardent love and patriotic devotion to the country and its people. The revolutionary career of Kim Jong Il is a heroic epic of a peerlessly brilliant commander of Songun and matchless patriot who consolidated the defence capabilities of the country in every way and firmly defended socialism, holding aloft the banner of Songun.” The meeting speakers also said “all the agricultural workers should hold Kim Jong Il in high esteem as the eternal leader of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Korean revolution and thoroughly carry out his behests.”
Note on Workers’ Organizations’ meeting attendance
Despite the major cultural significance assigned by the leadership to Kim Jong Il’s birthday, two of these three workers’ orgs events were not attended by their last known leading officials. Ro Song Sil, last known Chair of the Korean Democratic Women’s Union Central Committee, was not reported to be present at the women’s union birthday event. The last known Chairman of the GFTUK Central Committee Hyon Sang Ju, was also not reported to have attended the trade unions’ event and the central report was delivered by his second Choe Su Dong. According to KCNA (not having checked internal media sources), Ro Song Sil and Hyon Sang Ju’s last reported public appearances were in late December 2012. The only incumbent head who attended his organization’s event was Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea Central Committee Chairman Ri Myang Gil. With the exception of the UAWK, the women’s union and the trade unions may be undergoing changes to their top leadership.
Filed under: 12 February 2013 Nuclear Test, 2013 Day of the Shining Star (KJI Birthday), Administration Department, Central Committee, Culture Section (bureau), DPRK Cabinet, Events Management Section, General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, Hyon Sang Ju (GFTUK), Kim Family, Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, Korean Democratic Women's Union, Korean Workers' Party (KWP), local people's committees, national holidays, North Korean press, nuclear weapons, Organization and Guidance Department, party life, Propaganda and Agitation Department, Provincial Party Committees, Ri Myong Gil (UAWK), Ri Yong Su (Workers Orgs/AD), Ro Song Sil (KDWU), Secretariat, uawk, Uncategorized, worker peasant red guard, Working Organizations, Young Red Guard
