Mick Hartley

From North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun news, we learn that new posters have been produced "to inspire the people to carry through the tasks set forth by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un in his historic New Year Address".

Posters "Let us open a new road of advance for socialist construction under the uplifted banner of self-reliance!" and "Let all of us turn out in implementing the tasks set forth in the New Year Address!" call on all the Party members and other working people to work hard in the indefatigable spirit on the principle of self-reliance by adhering to the Party's new strategic line and bring about a revolutionary upswing on all fronts of socialist construction.

Another poster "Talented personnel, science and technology are our major strategic resources and weapons in socialist construction!" reflects the Party's policy of prioritizing science and technology and revolutionary policy for education.

Posters "Let us give impetus to hitting the targets of the five-year strategy for national economic development!" and "Let us achieve a greater development in establishing the Juche orientation in the metallurgical and chemical industries!" call on all the sectors and units to successfully carry out the targets of this year's struggle by effecting a great revolutionary upsurge.

Posters "Let us conduct a campaign for increased production on the agricultural front, the major point of attack!", "Let us open a new path for developing the fishing industry!" and "Let us produce and supply various kinds of consumer goods that are favoured by the people in the sector of light industry!" reflect the Party's intention to improve the people's standard of living radically.

A poster "Let the young people become pioneers of new technology, creators of new culture and pathfinders for a great leap forward!" calls on the young people to glorify the honor of vanguard and shock brigade on all fronts of socialist construction.

Keen collectors will no doubt be desperate to acquire the full set.

No mention, I see, of manure collection. That was, as I reported, a major rallying cry following the Supreme Leader's New Year Address. It would have made an interesting poster. "Let us advance the cause of socialist agriculture under the uplifted banner of self-reliance by collecting as much of the people's shit as possible!"

You can read the full (and stupendously dull) New Year Address here.