Usually, solid methods are strictly followed to save people from risk of natural disasters but North Koreans are reportedly protecting the portraits of Kim Jong-un, his father, Kim Jong-il, and his grandfather and North Korea’s founder, Kim Il-sung as the country braces for heavy rain and strong winds generated by tropical storm Khanun.
The foremost focus remains on guaranteeing the safety of propaganda portraits.The official newspaper also urged citizens to protect a large number of statues, mosaics, murals and other monuments to the Kim dynasty, which has ruled North Korea since it was founded in 1948.
The order to protect Kim’s imagery was a reminder of the importance the regime places on symbolism to reinforce its legitimacy. Portraits of Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung adorn every home and office in the country, and people can face execution for damaging them, even by accident, according to NK News adding that these statues and portraits are not just symbols but are sacred religious symbols – essentially icons. Every religion since times immemorial expects its faithful to be ready to die – or at least suffer –to save sacred icons.
Khanun has made landfall on the Korean peninsula and, was expected to move across to the Impoverished North where fragile infrastructure and deforestation have increased its vulnerability to flooding. The tropical storm has already caused floods and landslides in South Korea, with one death reportedly affecting above 16,000 people.