Mick Hartley

Is there such a thing as overdoing the sycophancy? Laying it on a bit too thick? Not at North Korea's Rodong Sinmun there isn't:

Mangyongdae Revolutionary School and Kang Pan Sok Revolutionary School have significantly marked the 75th anniversaries of their founding. They have become established as the seat for education of children of revolutionary martyrs and as the base for training the backbones of our revolution decade after decade and century after century under the care of the great Party injecting eternal vitality to the lifeline of the Juche revolution that started on Mt Paektu.

Along the course of their development associated with the noble revolutionary obligation of and outlook on the future generations of the peerlessly great men, the schools have brought up a large contingent of the indomitable revolutionaries and patriotic loyalists firmly inheriting the lineage of Mangyongdae and Paektu to promote the growth of our Party, state and revolutionary armed forces, and consolidated the cornerstone guaranteeing the eternity of the country and the revolution. This is a proud review of the long history of the schools.

A grand commemoration ceremony took place at Mangyongdae Revolutionary School Wednesday.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, attended the ceremony.

The teaching staff, students and graduates were wrapped in immense passion and excitement as they were bestowed the greatest honor of commemorating the significant founding anniversaries of their schools in the presence of the respected Marshal whom they wished to see even in a dream.

Amid the playing of the welcome music, Kim Jong Un arrived at Mangyongdae Revolutionary School,

All the participants raised stormy cheers of "Hurrah!" for the great teacher and the kind-hearted Marshal leading step by step for the steady continuation of the lineage of the Juche revolution while holding the children of revolutionary martyrs in his broad bosom and looking after them with sunny love and affection.

He was greeted by senior officials of the schools. Students of the schools presented Kim Jong Un with fragrant bouquets and put red ties around his neck..

After the Respected Marshal's speech, which is reported at length, and was very well received, there was time for a photo session:

The poor lad doesn't seem keen.

Still…

At the end of the photo session, thunderous cheers of "Hurrah!" broke out again and fireworks were displayed and chanting of "Kim Jong Un" and "devoted defence" reverberated far and wide.