North Korea’s party daily Rodong Sinmun, the country’s most authoritative media outlet which most accurately represents the top leadership’s calculus and intent, carried out a campaign playing up Kim Jong Un’s “party-building accomplishments” in the lead-up to and on the 74th founding anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK) on October 10.

The daily’s WPK-related coverage between October 1 and 10 — heavier than normal for a non-quinquennial and non-decennial anniversary year — highlighted the leader’s achievements to strengthen the party since he took power in 2012, including the major party meetings and his various ideological works.[/p