Kim Jong-un, center, attends the inauguration ceremony of the Sinpho City Offshore Farm in the city of Sinpho, South Hamgyong Province, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency, Dec. 30, 2024. Yonhap
North Korea has shown no signs of officially celebrating leader Kim Jong-un's birthday, which falls this week, despite recent efforts to solidify his authority independent of his father and grandfather, South Korea's unification ministry said Monday.
The assessment came amid growing speculation that North Korea may soon officially designate Kim's birthday, known to be Jan. 8, for special celebrations as part of its glorification campaigns for the leader.
"Since Chairman Kim Jong-un assumed power, no signs have been detected regarding the formalization of his birthday, known to be Jan. 8," Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson at the ministry, said during a press briefing.
In North Korea, the birthdays of late state founder Kim Il-sung and his successor, Kim Jong-il — the grandfather and father of the current leader, respectively — were designated as the Day of the Sun and the Kwangmyongsong Day, and are celebrated as national holidays with lavish events.
Since early last year, however, North Korea's state media has rarely referred to the term, the Day of the Sun, in what is seen as an effort to reduce Kim's reliance on his ancestors for authority and strengthen his status as a standalone leader.
In a related move, North Korea also ceased using the "juche," or self-reliance, calendar, symbolizing Kim Il-sung, last year.
Stamps, calendars and other state publications recently issued by North Korea have also abandoned the juche year-counting system. (Yonhap)
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