Art

Children are taught that they should aspire only to emulate Kim Il-sung. For example, those inclined to drawing are encouraged only to draw pictures of the Supreme Leader or make drawings which might have pleased Kim Il-sung. Good drawings are put up in schools. Typically, they either depict the Kim family or they depict children stabbing Japanese or American soldiers with swords or pencils. Like so:

In every province there is an art centre responsible for drawing the portraits of the Supreme Leaders and portraying their accomplishments which are displayed in exhibitions, and hung in the hallways and on the walls of public departments and companies. Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang is reportedly the central level body responsible for producing propaganda paintings, murals, posters, billboards, and monuments revering the Kim family. It’s been suggested that it’s the largest art factory in the world, employing roughly 4,000 DPRK nationals, including some 1,000 artists.

In each and every household in the DPRK, there must be at least three framed pictures on display: one of Kim Il-sung, one of Kim Jong-il and one of the two of them in discussion.

And the last thing you want to do is ruin one of these sacrosanct images, then you are in big trouble…

☛ Next Up: The Sick Chirpse Guide To Why North Korea Hates America