Kim Myungsung

◇ North Korea Holds "Yoon Suk-yeol and Joe Biden Effigy Burning Ceremony" in Response to the "Washington Declaration"

North Korea has been showing increasingly nervous reactions to the "Washington Declaration," which includes strengthened measures for the "extended deterrence" between South Korea and the United States, including effigy burning ceremonies targeting South Korean and American leaders, following a series of protests by social organizations. On May 2, a meeting was held at the Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities in Hwanghae Province, organized by the Cheongnyeon Alliance, where an effigy burning ceremony was also held. On this day, Korean Central Television (KCTV) reported that "the participants of the event held a burning ceremony, where they burned effigies of the invaders and provocateurs with a determination to give them death." This marks the first time since 2012, during the Lee Myung-bak administration, that North Korea has conducted such a ceremony targeting South Korea's president. The General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, a North Korean labor group, held a "condemnation meeting" in Kaesong, a border town, and even staged a protest march, fueling anti-US and anti-South Korean sentiments.

According to KCTV, the North Korean Women's Association held a "vengeance resolution meeting" in the courtyard of the National House of Class Education in Pyongyang. This was in response to the "Washington Declaration" adopted by the US and South Korea, which North Korea has taken as a sensitive issue. The TV station also announced that they strongly condemned the "wicked antagonistic party," which had turned South Korea into a "nuclear powder keg and a forward base," and that they had exposed the blatant nuclear war plans of the US imperialist aggressors.

North Korea is concerned that their nuclear and missile development efforts may be rendered useless due to strengthened nuclear capabilities between the US and South Korea. Kim Yo-jong, who oversees North Korea's foreign policy, has taken a hardline stance against the US and South Korea, referring to President Biden as an "old man." North Korean media did not release any photos or videos of the effigy burning ceremony, possibly to avoid controversy. The South Korean Ministry of Unification expressed regret over the event, stating that North Korea went too far.

◇ North Korean Fashion Show Features Knockoff Bags from Luxury Brands like Louis Vuitton and Celine

In the midst of hosting a large-scale women's clothing exhibition specializing in spring and summer attire, North Korea unveiled products imitating the designs of foreign luxury brands, just as they did last year. According to a North Korean media outlet on May 6th, the "Spring Women's Clothing Exhibition-2023" opened in Pyongyang on April 24th and closed on May 4th. North Korea's state-run media outlet, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has reported that new spring and summer clothing, created by Korea Unha General Trading, the Pyongyang Clothing Industry Management Office, and the Kyungheung Trading Company, received high praise for their ability to meet the preferences, hobbies, and body types of North Korean women while also enhancing their beauty and practicality for activities.

The exhibition showcased a variety of colorful spring and summer clothes, including one-piece dresses, suits, two-piece suits, shirts, skirts, and sportswear tailored to fit different age groups, professions, and body types. In addition, knockoff bags resembling designs from luxury brands such as CÉLINE Belt Bags and Louis Vuitton Montaigne Bags were also featured, as seen in photos of female models carrying them.

At the previous exhibition, a large number of knockoff products with luxury brand logos were captured. Bags with the Chanel logo, bags with patterns similar to Burberry's check design, and perfume bottles imitating Dior's design were all present at the exhibition. At the time, North Korea's propaganda outlet 'Tongil Voice' explained that "everything here at the exhibition is our own product, made with our technology and materials. Shoes, clothes, and groceries all have our trademarked products." North Korea encourages the development and exhibition of domestically produced goods and opens them to the public in order to prevent the relaxation of social norms under the pretext of promoting "our socialist way of life."

◇ North Korea Changes Farm Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman's Titles to Chinese-Style "jīnglǐ" and "jīnglǐ Assistant", Respectively, Meaning "Head" and "Head Assistant"

North Korea has changed the titles of the Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman at Cooperative farms to Chinese-style titles "jīnglǐ" and "jīnglǐ Assistant," respectively. The previous title of "chairman" has been replaced with "head," while the Vice Chairman is now referred to as "head assistant". KCTV and other North Korean state media outlets introduced the title of ‘jīnglǐ’ for the chairman of the Cooperative Farm in their coverage of the spring planting season on March 17th. On May 6th, KCTV reported on an interview with Li Yong-san, the head assistant of the Ryongjeon Fruit Farm in North Pyongan Province. According to North Korean sources, the titles of both the head and head assistant of the Cooperative Farm were changed to ‘jīnglǐ” and ' jīnglǐ assistant,' respectively, earlier this year, in what was described as a move to adopt a Chinese-style system.

North Korea's adoption of Chinese-style titles like "Jingli (head) " for its farm chairman is seen as an attempt to emulate China's rural reforms, as the country emphasizes the importance of agriculture and grain production. The decision to use "Jingli" for the farm management committee may have been made to avoid the repetition with Kim Jong-un's title. North Korea previously changed Kim Jong-un's title from "President" to "General Secretary" and all positions in the Workers' Party of Korea from "President" to "General Secretary," but still uses the title "President" for bodies like the State Affairs Commission and the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.