Mick Hartley

Not only must North Koreans attend the showing of propaganda videos: they must pay attention. There’s a new drive to “root out the attitude of perfunctory participation where only bodies are present”. The Orwellian dream lives on.

Amid ongoing propaganda film study sessions praising the greatness of Kim Jong Un in South Hamgyong province, authorities are treating young people who dozed off during the sessions as serious political issues.

A Daily NK source in South Hamgyong province reported on Jan. 30 that workplaces in Hamhung and other regions have conducted propaganda film study sessions since early January, and authorities are subjecting some young people to ideological struggle sessions for dozing off.

In the past, when people dozed off or chatted with others during study sessions or lectures, lecturers would simply give warnings. However, authorities have recently been responding harshly by treating such behavior as serious political issues and putting offenders on the stage of ideological struggle sessions, the source explained.…

The documentary films shown in recent propaganda film study sessions focus on highlighting that Kim is working day and night to improve people’s lives, and that workers are building rural houses and constructing local industrial factories under his guidance.

North Korea requires everyone to participate in such sessions, which serve as powerful tools for regime propaganda and unity. However, people who feel fatigued by the repeatedly glorifying messages only participate in the sessions perfunctorily without concentrating.

Accordingly, authorities have ordered party committees to organize ideological struggle sessions featuring those who show insincere attitudes during study sessions for the purpose of raising vigilance.