North Korea’s ruling-party Congress on Monday announced a new title for Kim Jong Un, party chairman, in a move that highlights how the authoritarian country’s first congress in 36 years is aimed at bolstering the young leader.
less than a third of the more than 100 foreign journalists invited for the historic congress were permitted to attend, and even they were allowed to view the proceedings in the ornate April 25 House of Culture for only about 10 minutes. Earlier on Monday, a BBC correspondent was expelled for allegedly “insulting the dignity” of North Korea.
As a military band in full uniform played the welcoming song, used whenever North Korea’s leader enters a public place, Mr. Kim strode onto the stage, generating a long, loud standing ovation from the several thousand delegates attending.
In unison the delegates shouted, “Mansae! Mansae!” wishing Mr. Kim long life.
Mr. Kim Yong Nam, the head of the North’s Parliament, stood to read a roster of top party positions calling Mr. Kim Jong Un chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea for the first time.
Mr. Kim had already been head of the party, but with the title of first secretary.