North Korea appears to have discontinued the use of its Juche calendar system, a move that experts suggest reflects Kim Jong Un’s goal of reinforcing his legacy as leader.

The Juche calendar, which had been in use since 1997, designated 1912, the birth year of North Korea’s founder Kim Il Sung, as Juche 1. The system had been used alongside the Gregorian calendar in official North Korean documents and media for 27 years.

The Juche ideology, often translated as “self-reliance,” has been a cornerstone of North Korean state philosophy since its introduction by Kim Il Sung. 

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