Kim Jong Un told young North Koreans at a convention of the regime’s youth league they must be willing to « give all » to their country.
June 7 (UPI) — Kim Jong Un told young North Koreans at a convention of the regime’s youth league they must be willing to « give all » to their country – a sign the North Korean leader is turning his attention to cultivating a loyal demographic among children between the ages of 7 and 14.
Pyongyang’s state-controlled news agency KCNA reported Wednesday Kim attended the eighth meeting of the group also known as the Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League, founded in 1946 by Kim Il Sung, the current leader’s biological grandfather.
« The youth league is a mass political organization that is preparing the successors of the Workers’ Party and the youth alliance, » Kim said Wednesday. « The primary mission of the organization is to prepare the true sons and daughters of our socialist fatherland to become revolutionary youths. »
Kim added members of the organization must « know the great value of the fatherland and the leadership, and must know how to give all for the country and revolution. »
« Wherever, whenever, they must think and live according to the wishes of the party, » Kim said.
Kim has been careful to cultivate close ties to some of North Korea’s youngest people because they are expected to become the « core generation » supporting the regime, as the leader grows into his role in the next several decades, a South Korean analyst has said .
North Korea has been stepping up measures to encourage idolization of the leadership, but more North Koreans may be less trustful of authority.
Daily NK reported this week a North Korean state security agent was stabbed in North Hamgyong Province while on duty.
The agent survived, but North Koreans say people are increasingly irritated with corruption among officers.
