North Korea Celebrates 10 Years Of Kim Jong Un’s Rule

Kim Jong-Un's new portraits and exhibitions were revealed Sunday in celebration of his 10th anniversary since becoming the Workers' Party of Korea's (WPK) leader.

Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired a 40-minute program Sunday featuring an anniversary celebration of Kim. North Korea displayed a large painted portrait of Kim's image as the backdrop of the event stage during a "national meeting" of most of the country’s top leadership, however Kim was not in attendance.

The 38-year-old leader has been praised for leading the development of North Korea, ahead of the Monday anniversary marking 10 years since he became party leader. There are no current painted portraits or statues of Kim that are known to be displayed in the country, and the current leader still does not permit artists to paint his image in paintings at national art exhibitions. It is unknown if authorities will more widely put in view or distribute the new portrait.

The events started with a week of commemorations that will also include the 110-year anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and Kim's grandfather, on Friday.

Politburo Presidium member of the WPK Central Committee and one of the most senior officials under Kim, Choe Ryong Hae, also shared a message and warm admiration for Kim. He praised Kim for leading the country through the "worst" hardships and "completing" the project of obtaining nuclear weapons to end the history of nuclear threats from other countries and fight against the threat of "invasions from the imperialists."

Choe also added that "the Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un is the Great Guardian who proudly raised our country to the level of a militarily strong nation that is perfectly equipped with powerful physical means for self-defense, not lacking anything."

North Korean troops were seen practicing for a military parade that could be held this week, as shown in commercial satellite imagery. According to analysts, there are signs that North Korea could display its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at the event.

Kim has sworn to improve the residents' lives and tried to boost North Korea's economy, however, it suffered significant problems in recent years due to international sanctions, coronavirus lockdown measures and bad weather.