The leader’s New Year’s speech has, under Kim Jong Un, become one of the most important events in the North Korean calendar, setting the tone for state policy – both domestic and foreign – for the coming year, as well as expectations of how the country will, or won’t, engage with the rest of the world.

It also plays a critical role in the DPRK’s internal propaganda, with citizens encouraged to memorize parts of the speech and quotes being printed and featuring in artwork across the country.

It’s no surprise, then, that