Kim Jong Un Nominated For Election as SPA Deputy

DPRK state media reported that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) was nominated as a candidate for election as a deputy (delegate) to the 13th Supreme People’s Assembly on 3 February (Monday) by officers and service members of the Korean People’s Army [KPA]. He will will represent the Mt. Paektu (Paektusan) Constituency #111. An electoral meeting nominating KJU was held at the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces in Pyongyang on 3 February, attended by VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the KPA General Political Department), Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Gen. Jang Jong Nam (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces) and KPA service members and officers.

VMar Choe Ryong Hae delivered a report which said that “the path covered by the DPRK under the leadership of the Military-First (So’ngun) commander of Mt. Paektu is a sacred path in which it emerged victorious by dint of the spirit, pluck and gut of the supreme commander, and a gigantic path in which it created world-startling miracles and innovations” and that “through their life experience the KPA service personnel keenly felt that the bright future of Military-First (So’ngun) Korea and the victory of building a thriving socialist nation, the lifelong desire and wish of the great Generalissimos, are guaranteed only when they follow the supreme commander.” VMar Choe nominated Kim Jong Un for election as an SPA deputy which, according to KCNA carried “the unanimous desire and warm wishes of all the service personnel.” Gen. Ri Yong Gil and Gen. Jang Jong Nam, along with other meeting speakers “expressed full support and approval for the proposal for nominating Kim Jong Un as a candidate for deputy to the SPA.” Kim Jong Un was formally nominated as an SPA candidate “according to the unanimous desire and warm support and approval of all the electorate.”

After the speaking program, the meeting sent a letter to Kim Jong Un to inform him of his nomination and “expressed the determination to successfully fulfill the honorable mission and duty as the defender of the DPRK government, rallied close around the supreme commander.” According to KCNA, the letter also said:

The period in which Kim Jong Un has led the army and the people of the DPRK true to the intention of leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) was a short time in the nation’s history spanning five thousand years, but the feats he performed during the period are, indeed, the great feats that politicians can not do for a century and more. The DPRK is giving full play to its dignity and might as an invincible power, while confidently advancing along the road of independence, Songun (military-first) and socialism despite the world political upheaval. This is the proud fruition of Kim Jong Un’s extraordinary wisdom, distinguished political caliber, matchless courage and pluck. Therefore, the grand meeting of electorate decided with a unanimous approval to nominate Kim Jong Un as a candidate for deputy to the 13th SPA of the DPRK amid the full support and enthusiastic cheers of all the participants.

Following Kim Jong Un’s nomination, KPA officers and service members held a dance party. It was attended by member of the KPA’s high command. The party began with “Song of Election” and included songs “Fortune of Korea,” “Our Socialism is the Best in the World,” “Song of Airmen,” “At One Go” and ended with “We Will Defend General Kim Jong Un at the Cost of Our Lives.” According to KCNA dance party attendees “danced, extending the greatest honor and warmest congratulations to Kim Jong Un who has developed the Korean People’s Army into an invincible revolutionary elite army, glorifying the undying state-building exploits performed by the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il” and that “their faces shone with great pride and self-esteem of firmly defending the revolutionary power of the people with arms, holding the peerless Military-First (So’ngun) commander in high esteem.”

Aspects of the dance party reflected “the optimism of the powerful Mt. Paektu (Paektusan) revolutionary army rushing like storm at a-match-for-a-hundred speed for offensive while winning victory after victory in defending socialism and bringing happiness to the people under the leadership of the supreme commander.” According to KCNA the dance party ” showed well the firm faith and will of the service personnel to defend the people’s power with Mt. Paektu (Paektusan) arms and discharge their duty as the scouting party and strong mainstay of the Military-First (So’ngun) revolution in building a thriving nation, holding Kim Jong Un in high esteem.”

DPRK state media reported on 4 February (Tuesday) that additional meetings were convened to nominate Kim Jong Un as a candidate for the 13th SPA. The meetings occurred in Pyongyang, Sinu’iju, Kanggye, Sariwo’n, Ch’o’ngjin, Hamhu’ng, Namp’o, other DPRK cities and KPA units. Reports and speeches were read at the meetings which ended with participants adopting letters to Kim Jong Un. According to KCNA, the meetings’ reports and speeched said that “Kim Jong Un clearly indicated a long-term strategy of the Korean revolution for advancing straight along the road of independence, Songun (Military-First) and socialism under the uplifted great banner of Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism and has performed undying exploits for developing the DPRK” and that “it is the true picture of the DPRK that all the service personnel and people uphold Kim Jong Un as the unitary center of unity and leadership and have built an invulnerable fortress, united close around him on the basis of the monolithic ideology, faith and revolutionary comradeship, going arms in arms and shoulder to shoulder with him.”

The reports and speeches also said that “the army and people of the DPRK have keenly realized through their life experience that a rosy future of Military-First (So’ngun) Korea and victory of the cause of building a thriving socialist nation are in store only when they follow Kim Jong Un endowed with outstanding ideas and theories, distinguished leadership art and noble traits.” The meetings’ reports “courteously proposed nominating Kim Jong Un as a candidate for deputy to the 13th SPA reflecting the unanimous desire and ardent wishes of all the service personnel and people.”