Mick Hartley

We heard about North Korean singer Kim Ok-ju a couple of weeks back, with her nauseating ode to Kim Jong-un, We Call Him Father. More today from South Korea's Chosun Ilbo:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has rewarded the country's queen of official entertainment, Kim Ok-ju, with the title of "People's Artist."

Kim Jong-un seems to have taken a fancy to the celebrated interpreter of such a propaganda classic as "We Call Him Father" who is still only in her 30s.

Even her nearest rival, the leader's rumored ex-girlfriend Hyon Song-wol, has not been given the honor, though she has risen from the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble to his protocol officer….

Last month, she made headlines when she sang more than half of the songs during a big concert for the nomenklatura. And in February, during a performance marking the birthday of former leader Kim Jong-il, the smitten leader demanded two encores from her….

Kim Jong-un's patronage of young performers may also be aimed at stemming the corrupting influence of South Korean pop music in the Stalinist country or rewarding entertainers who most enthusiastically toe the party line.

Here's the great man, looking like a gangster boss surrounded by flunkies, at an event with young entertainers who were being honored in a ceremony at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, as reported in the official Rodong Sinmun yesterday. 

That's Kim Ok-ju circled, on the Supreme Leader's left, looking very intimate, while another woman adoringly clutches his pudgy hand.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Sunday met and congratulated the creators and artistes of the major art troupes on receiving state commendations.

The creators and artistes were overwhelmed by the feelings of profound reverence and gratitude to the great mentor and kind-hearted father who met them in person following the conferment of high honor and state commendations to them though they just did their part as persons of art and literature of the Party on the road of advance for implementing the decisions made at the historic Party Congress.

The respected General Secretary gave a pep-talk to them, warmly holding their hands one by one, in recognition of their distinguished services for the development of Juche music in the revolutionary traits of creation, keeping in mind the trust of the Party Central Committee and the expectation of the people.

He said with appreciation that they created and portrayed masterpieces of the times loved by the people including song "Our National Flag" true to our Party's revolutionary line and idea, and thus glorified our state-first era and instilled confidence and optimism about sure victory into the people….