North Korea releases new song celebrating ‘friendly father’ Kim Jong-un

Alex Thompson By Alex Thompson Jun18,2024
Key Points
  • A song celebrating Kim Jong-un and his leadership was performed at a ceremony in Pyongyang on Tuesday.
  • Titled Friendly Father, the song declares that North Korean people believe in Kim and will follow him “united”.
  • The song and its accompanying music video follow recent attempts to promote Kim’s cult of personality.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been celebrated as the nation’s “friendly father” in a new song broadcast on state television this week.
The song was first performed live to celebrate the opening of a new 10,000-home development in Pyongyang on Tuesday, which Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said was finished “at the highest level” within a 14-month period.
The housing completion ceremony featured a large-scale concert with jet flyovers and a live performance by some of the nation’s top singers, who unveiled the new song in tribute to North Korea’s supreme leader.

Titled Friendly Father, the track praises Kim for delivering a “brighter future” for North Korea and declares that “the people believe and will follow united”. An accompanying music video released on Wednesday shows workers, defence personnel and everyday citizens cheering, dancing and punching the air as they proclaim their love for Kim.

A man in a black leather jacket and dark trousers salutes as he walks down a red carpet past saluting soldiers in uniform

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting the Kim Jong-il University of Military and Politics in Pyongyang, North Korea last week in a photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Credit: KCNA/EPA

The song is the latest in a string of recent attempts to bolster Kim’s cult of personality. Between 2022 and 2023, Kim approved a series of large-scale murals showing him shovelling dirt, visiting a medical factory and surrounded by plants in a greenhouse.

In July 2023, a series of paintings showing Kim engaged in activities such as riding a horse, meeting with school children and standing atop North Korea’s “holy” Mount Paektu were unveiled at an art exhibition. Months later, in November, reports claimed that a song titled the Hymn of General Kim Jong-un had become the official song at state events.

“Our general is the wisest of 10 million,” the hymn proclaims. “Our general cultivates the best paradise with the power of love for our everlasting happiness. His name is General Kim Jong-un!”

Kim arrived at the housing completion ceremony on Tuesday in an armoured limousine gifted to him by Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He and his entourage of top officials sat atop a building during the ceremony, while the singers performed for him on an opposite rooftop.

Alex Thompson

By Alex Thompson

Alex is an award-winning journalist with a passion for investigative reporting. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Alex has covered a wide range of topics from politics to entertainment. Known for in-depth research and compelling storytelling, Alex's work has been featured in major news outlets around the world.

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4 thoughts on “North Korea releases new song celebrating ‘friendly father’ Kim Jong-un”
  1. As an avid follower of North Korean news, I find it concerning how the regime continually promotes Kim Jong-un’s cult of personality through songs like “Friendly Father”. It’s important to remember the realities of life for the average citizen in North Korea, rather than glorifying their leader in such a manner.

  2. I find it concerning how North Korea continues to promote Kim Jong-un’s cult of personality through songs like this. The idea of him being referred to as a ‘friendly father’ only serves to further brainwash the citizens. It’s important for people to question and seek the truth beyond such propaganda.

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