North Korea will pardon an unspecified number of criminals as part of celebrations for the ruling party’s founding anniversary next month, according to state media, a move that appears to be aimed at fostering Kim Jong Un’s image as a benevolent ruler.

The Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) has “decided to grant an amnesty to those who have been convicted of committing crimes against the country and the people” ahead of the “glorious”  80th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) on Oct. 10, the Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday.

The SPA Standing