Kim attempts to build cult of personality with 7ft portrait
NORTH KOREA has unveiled its first official portrait of Kim Jong-un, its leader, in what has been interpreted as a significant move towards boosting his status and trying to build a personality cult.
The 7ft painted portrait of a beaming Kim in a suit was revealed at Pyongyang International Airport on Sunday when he welcomed Miguel Diaz-canel, the president of Cuba, for a state visit.
Analysts say Kim may be trying to project parity with his father, Kim Jong-il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, whose portraits are in almost every home and public area in North Korea.
Toshimitsu Shigemura, an expert on the Kim dynasty and professor at Waseda university in Tokyo, said the portrait may have been timed to counter criticisms that he was failing to deliver on promises to his people.
“The most important thing for any North Korean leader is results and Kim’s results so far have been disappointing,” he said.
Kim’s June summit with Donald Trump, the US president, raised expectations among the North Korean public that international sanctions would soon be lifted, but progress on denuclearisation has since stalled.
Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, and Kim Yong-chol, one of Kim’s top aides, will meet in New York tomorrow to try to end the impasse.