North Korea organized a second training seminar for party officials in charge of propaganda at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang from Apr. 20 to 23.
“Party organizations and officials in the party’s propaganda wing have failed to adapt to a rapidly changing reality, and our propaganda and agitation programs are not communicating a clear message,” said Ri Il-hwan, a secretary with the WPK Central Committee, during an address at the seminar.
Ri’s remark about the failure “to adapt to a rapidly changing reality” is an apparent reference to how North Korean propagandists have failed to instill patriotism and loyalty in the younger generation, which is regarded as a crucial pillar supporting the regime’s rule.
The North Korean authorities have stressed that young people are supposed to serve as “shock troops in building a powerful socialist state,” as described in the recently enacted Youth Education Guarantee Act. But many of North Korea’s young people are expressing resistance to the government’s political propaganda and agitation and even asking why they should make personal sacrifices for the sake of the party, the leader and the state.
While the virtues of sacrifice and loyalty to the state remain a major focus of state indoctrination, there are few young people who take the political and ideological education they receive at school or work at face value.
“Volunteers” for work in tough areas often have little choice because of social status
North Korean media outlets continue to report that “many patriotic young people are voluntarily signing up for difficult and challenging areas of the socialist construction project because of their esteem for state policy.” But a young resident of Pyongyang in his 20s, identified here as “A,” explained to Daily NK that such volunteering is hardly voluntary. “It’s because of economic incentives and social pressure,” he added.
Since schools and youth organizations are periodically ordered to rustle up volunteers for difficult work assignments, people often find themselves forced to “volunteer” for mines or construction sites against their wishes.