December 06, 2023
Analysis

Why Kim Jong Un is paying unprecedented tribute to a late military official

North Korea has honored Hyon Chol Hae in ways usually reserved for Kim family, with leader even kneeling at his grave

North Korea held a large-scale commemorative event for late military official Hyon Chol Hae on Friday, and for analysts like myself, the spectacle presented in state media was nothing short of astounding.

Photos published in the Rodong Sinmun on Saturday showed a grand hall adorned with a portrait of Hyon positioned on the stage — an honor typically reserved exclusively for members of the Kim family. State TV later aired a 39-minute video of the event.