North Korea drops 'nation' from Kim Il Sung memorial phrase
· UPIJuly 8 (Asia Today) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Wednesday to mark the 32nd anniversary of the death of state founder Kim Il Sung, North Korean state media reported.
The wording used by North Korean media drew attention because they described the anniversary as "the greatest day of mourning for the party, the state and the people," rather than "the greatest day of mourning for the nation."
Analysts said the change appears to reaffirm North Korea's recent stance that the two Koreas are hostile states rather than one people.
The Korean Central News Agency and other North Korean media reported that Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun at midnight Wednesday with senior party and government officials. Kim Ju Ae, Kim Jong Un's daughter, was not seen in the footage.
North Korean media used the phrase "the nation's greatest day of mourning" in similar coverage last year, but that wording was omitted this year.
According to the state news agency, Kim paid tribute in the hall where the bodies of Kim Il Sung and former leader Kim Jong Il are preserved. He also placed a floral basket before statues of the former leaders.
"Comrade Kim Jong Un, together with the participants, paid noble tribute before the statues of the great leader and the great general on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the death of Comrade Kim Il Sung," the report said.
Kim Jong Un has appeared in recent years to reduce the number of visits to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where his father and grandfather lie in state. But he has continued to mark the anniversaries of their deaths.
After taking power, Kim had generally visited the palace at least five times a year, including New Year's Day and the birthdays and death anniversaries of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. That pattern began to change in 2022, when he started skipping some visits on the former leaders' birthdays.
Still, Kim has visited the palace on the anniversary of Kim Il Sung's death every year since taking power except in 2018. Analysts said he appeared to skip the visit that year because of active inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea diplomacy.
Experts said Kim's recent pattern reflects an effort to highlight his independent standing as leader. While he relied heavily on the legacy of his predecessors early in his rule, analysts said Kim now appears to be adjusting the emphasis as his power has stabilized after more than a decade in office.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260708010002792