North Korean state media reported this week that citizens miss Kim Jong Un after he left on a strenuous and “patriotic” trip to Russia, heaping praise on the leader’s “sacrifices” in a propaganda campaign to shore up support while he’s away.

DPRK outlets featured extensive coverage on celebrations for the national founding anniversary on Sept. 9, reporting on large-scale events and the activities of a visiting Chinese delegation and Russian military band.

State media covered celebratory events and letters of Chongryon, the pro-DPRK association of ethnic Koreans in Japan, in an effort to hold