Pins, portraits, propaganda: How the cult of Kim Jong Un hit new heights in 2024 | NK News
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January 03, 2025

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Pins, portraits, propaganda: How the cult of Kim Jong Un hit new heights in 2024

North Korean leader increasingly sought to step out of his dead predecessors’ shadow, raising profile at their expense

In a year marked by drastic policy shifts, Kim Jong Un made great strides in stepping out of the shadow of his predecessors in 2024, showcasing his power by strengthening his cult of personality.

As North Korea’s leader, Kim is front and center in the state’s portrayal of everything that happens in the country, but on paper he is still outranked by two dead men — his grandfather and father.

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