North Korean authorities canceled many of the events commemorating Kim Il Sung’s birthday on Apr. 15, Daily NK has learned.

“On Monday night, the authorities suddenly announced that many of the events celebrating Kim Il Sung’s birthday [The Day of the Sun] have been canceled,” a Ryanggang Province-based source told Daily NK on Apr. 14.

The country had already cancelled the April Spring Friendship Art Festival and the Pyongyang Marathon, which have traditionally been held to celebrate Kim Il Sung’s birthday.

Daily NK sources also reported that representatives from around the country were told to watch a rally held on the afternoon of Apr. 14 on TV. A skeleton crew was at hand for a flag-raising ceremony to be held today in Pyongyang.

The authorities have reportedly continued to stress the ban on travel while local police and inminban have been ordered to conduct strict surveillance to ensure all households in their districts follow the ban.

Daily NK sources also reported that the authorities ordered factories to create units of two to three people to protect nearby statues of the country’s leaders during a “special security week,” which began at 3 PM on Apr. 14 and will last until 6 PM on Apr. 16.

*Translated by Violet Kim

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