March 29, 2024
Analysis

North Korea’s tale of two front pages

Why did North Korea change its newspaper from the day Kim Jong Il's promotion was announced?

On April 20, 1992 Kim Jong Il was promoted to his first military rank – that of marshal of the DPRK. The next day, on April 21, Rodong Sinmun published the government decree to this effect on the first page. That however, was not the only promotion that took place. On the same day, O Chin U, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, was promoted to marshal of the DPRK – a truly unique event, since no one else in North Korean history shared a rank with a Kim after the latter was formally anointed as a successor.

This was an unusual day, since eight other officers were given a lesser rank of vice marshal. That was a mark of the beginning of Kim Jong Il’s era, in which the value of high military rank was to be inflated: under Kim Il Sung, he himself was the only marshal, with no more than one person holding the next rank of vice-marshal simultaneously. Under Kim Jong Il, almost two dozens vice-marshals and three marshals were created.

Become a member for less than $4 per week.

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.