North Korea: Kim Jong Un’s Image First Next to His Predecessors’

A quantum leap. Kim Jong Un “elevated” his image by placing it alongside the images of the dynasty’s illustrious predecessors, his grandfather Kim Il Sung and his father Kim Jong Il.

The portrait of the youngest Kim was placed next to portraits of his predecessors, as shown in a photo released by North Korea’s state media. A signal that analysts say represents a change of pace for the personality cult of the current North Korean leader, who has been in power since 2011.

“This is very important because placing Kim Jong Un’s portrait next to those of his predecessors indicates his equality with previous leaders,” explained to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency Hong Min, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification. The impact could spread to other locations, Hong said. In all major structures in the country and even in private homes, photographs of deceased leaders are usually displayed prominently.

The photos were taken during the opening celebration for the Workers’ Party Training School, the highest form of education in North Korea.