North Korea and the art of propaganda
North Korea launched a propaganda war Wednesday, releasing images of a strategic ballistic rocket lifting off near Pyongyang along with photos of a smiling Kim Jong Un. Both North Korea and the U. S. continued talking tough by vowing to stop talking.
We don’t know a lot about the inner workings of the North Korean government, but one of the biggest clues about who’s in and who’s out is their proximity to Dear Leader. The closer you are to Kim in the photo, Lee said, the closer you probably are in real life.
General Jang Chang Ha, while not as important as Kim Rak Gyom, is another important figure in the kingdom’s missile adventures. He’s in charge of the Intercontinental ballistic missile development program, and was promoted to a three- star general after the July 4 ICBM test.
The hilariously ornate ashtray next to Kim is a metaphorical attempt to display the Supreme Leader’s power, Lee says. Since he’s unburdened by laws and norms, he’s totally free to smoke anywhere he wants. Imagine the freedom.
Kim Jong Un watches the launch of an intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 near Pyongyang on Tuesday.
Ever wonder why generals in North Korean propaganda photos look like they’ve just been told the funniest joke in the world? It’s simple: “They like to rub it in,” Lee said. The laughter is meant to display a sense of confidence and power to rival nations — and to pour salt in the wound.
General Kim Rak Gyom is the Commander of the Korean People’s Army Strategic Force, which means he’s in charge of every missile program. He’s almost always seen beaming by Kim’s side in shots like these.
Almost as important as the fact that North Korea is testing long- range missiles is when they do it ( see: the recent ballistic missile test on July 4). The most recent launch over Japan came on August 29 — the anniversary of 1910’ s annexation of the Korean peninsula by Japan, which is still known in the North and the South as “National Humiliation Day.”