Kim Jong Un may lose power

Kim Jong Un, wielding absolute power in North Korea, occupies a near-divine position in the eyes of his people. However, his rule is beginning to face a new threat: growing discontent among the youth, writes The Wall Street Journal.

The dictator is particularly concerned by the influence of foreign media, which gives North Koreans a unique opportunity to look beyond their country through K-pop music and Hollywood films.

The publication reports that the distribution or even possession of such content, which Kim Jong Un calls “dangerous poisons” («опасными ядами»), is now punished with increasingly strict measures, including the death penalty.

As WSJ notes, Kim’s ability to maintain the illusion that North Korea is a socialist paradise is under threat, which in turn is a key element in preserving his power.

Recently, Kim has focused on the propaganda role of the Paektusan Heroes Youth Shock Brigade, named after the mountain sacred to Koreans. This group of young people was recognised as national heroes for helping to restore the western border region, which was severely damaged by a flood in July 2024. According to official data, within four months, 300,000 members of the brigade built 15,000 facilities — houses, schools and hospitals.

However, as the publication notes, Kim Jong Un has a “long list of tasks” («долгий список задач»). He must deal with the domestic and foreign consequences of sending 12,000 soldiers to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine, as well as work on reviving the economy, which has fallen into decline. But his biggest problem is the long-term task of retaining the loyalty of the young generation, raised in the spirit of strict obedience and loyalty to the regime.

Although some North Koreans voluntarily join the shock brigades, many are coerced into doing so and face food shortages, according to reports from the South Korean government. Working conditions are often hazardous to health, and the working day lasts from dawn to night.

Membership in these youth brigades varies depending on who is available for conscription. Nevertheless, as Kim Yong-su, head of the Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul, notes, the goal of these groups remains unchanged: they serve as a tool for instilling unconditional loyalty to Kim Jong Un’s regime in citizens.

“Although the composition of the youth brigades may change, their main task remains the same — to prove their loyalty to the regime,” the expert noted.