Mick Hartley

"Formalism" is the new crime in North Korea. You're told that you have to do something to celebrate the glories of Kim ideology, yet you know that there's nothing to celebrate. There's no there there: no great achievements, no dramatic breakthroughs. It's all the same old shit. So you go through the motions. You have no choice. Give the same tired old tools/slogans a fresh lick of paint, and hope that'll keep the authorities off your back. And then you're accused of formalism. Your heart wasn't in it. You not only have to go through the motions – you have to believe it. You have to show real genuine enthusiasm.

Recent reports indicate that punishments are being intensified across North Korean society for issues of formalism in implementing Workers’ Party policies.

According to a source in South Pyongan Province, the annual spring agricultural tool exhibition in North Korea’s farming sector was once again conducted as a mere formality this year, drawing criticism for providing no actual benefit to agricultural production or farm household income.

This year’s agricultural tool exhibition was reportedly branded as “the worst ever.” The exhibition was not only small in scale, but the agricultural tools on display were uniformly old ones that had been hastily repaired or simply repainted.

At a time when the leadership is cracking down on corruption, the responsible officials were predictably dismissed from their positions.

They can count themselves lucky they weren't shot.

However, among ordinary citizens, there were sympathetic voices saying, “In these difficult times, even maintaining appearances is challenging.”

In reality, “formalism” has become chronic in North Korea. The authorities impose unrealistic demands, forcing those on the ground to obsess over ceremonies and procedures. Local officials, working with limited resources, have simply been going through the motions of implementing directives.

Meanwhile, the Workers’ Party continues to pressure local officials to reduce their “formalistic working attitude,” creating a disconnect.

They have to do things a certain way, implementing party directives, yet they have to do it spontaneously. It's a hard one…but they'll get there in the end. True freedom comes with obeying the party. "Freedom is slavery".