In North Korea, 16 February is Kim Jong Il’s birthday, and is known as the ‘Day of the Shining Star’, an event normally celebrated with military parades and fireworks, as well as extra food rations, known as “gifts”, for North Korean families. But this year, there were no formal festivities and the streets were empty, with many experts explaining the shift to mean that Kim Jong Un no longer wants to direct the spotlight at his predecessors, believing his support to be powerful enough to stand on its own.
What do you think?
“What, you didn’t celebrate Dear Leader’s birthday? You know I can turn you in for a massive 300,000 Won reward, right?”
“Take me with you and just abandon me in a war zone. Please, anything is better than this.”
“No surprise I forgot Dear Leader’s birthday. He never bothered to remember mine.”
Kim Ryong-hui, 33
Statue Polisher
Ri Hyok-chol, 7
Orphan
Pak Chun-sook, 41
Manager, Tremendous #7 Zipper Factory
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