A portrait of authority: Pictures of the Kims in N. Korea | NK News
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September 16, 2026Sep 16, 2026

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A portrait of authority: Pictures of the Kims in N. Korea

What role do the omnipresent pictures of the leadership play in society? And are they really unique?

North Korea is a country living, day and night, under the watchful eyes of millions of portraits of its leaders.

In every home, in every office, in every school, on public transportation and in every public place, hang portraits of the deceased former heads of state Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, a constant reminder of who’s in charge.

There are two portraits: of the founder of the country, Kim Il Sung, and of his son, Kim Jong Il (rarely of Kim Jong Un) and often they hang next to picture of the two conferring upon some important matter