Every January, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rings in the new year with a major speech that assesses the problems facing the country and sets forth the regime’s objectives for the year, continuing a tradition that goes back seven decades.

These addresses are far from a mere formality; they are a masterclass in the strategic use of historical narratives, drawing on the past to reinforce the regime’s legitimacy, shape national identity and navigate the complex landscape of international relations.

In a paper published this year, I undertook a textual analysis of all