North Korea’s Propaganda Targets U.S. and South Korea, Raising Tensions

North Korea, which has begun to use the official name the Republic of Korea instead of South Chosun, defining inter-Korean relations as ‘relations between two countries,’ has intensified the atmosphere of ‘confrontation against the South’ by stating the name ‘South Korea’ in its propaganda.

North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun reported on the 21st, “New propaganda posters encouraging the implementation of the commanding tasks presented in the government speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly on the 15th by Kim Jong Un have been created.”

The new propaganda includes six titles: “For the revival and development of the Republic and the promotion of people’s welfare!” “Let’s continue to enhance the upward trend of the national economy!” “Defending the homeland is the greatest patriotism!” “Let’s vigorously promote the ‘Local Development 20X10 Policy’!” “Let’s put maximum effort into preparing for a war!” and “Let’s mercilessly crush the American imperialists and the people of South Korea!”

In particular, the propaganda titled “Let’s mercilessly crush the American imperialists and the people of South Korea!” explicitly reveals the hostility towards the South and the U.S. by using the official name “South Korea.”

Concerning this, Rodong Sinmun explained, “The propaganda ‘Let’s mercilessly crush the American imperialists and the people of South Korea!’ is brimming with the spirit of destruction, which will instantly annihilate the enemies if they infringe upon our territory, airspace, and territorial waters by even 0.001 mm, by ensuring a confident readiness to thoroughly and mercilessly suppress and crush any form of provocative act by the enemies with an overwhelming response.”

At the end of last year, Kim Jong Un, during the 9th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, defined inter-Korean relations as “hostile relations between two countries,” “relations between two warring countries during a war.” Following this, in the government speech at the 10th Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly on the 15th, he expressed strong hostility by referring to South Korea as “the first enemy country” and “the immutable main enemy.”