N. Korea omits 'Day of the Sun' reference in announcing founder's birthday events

▲ This Korean Central News Agency file image shows the April Spring Friendship Art Festival in 2025 marking the 113rd anniversary of the birthday of founder Kim Il-sung. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

NK founder-birth anniversary

N. Korea omits 'Day of the Sun' reference in announcing founder's birthday events

SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Wednesday announced an annual springtime festival marking late state founder Kim Il-sung's birthday in April but avoided calling the anniversary by its reverent name, the "Day of the Sun."

The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be staged in Pyongyang to mark the 114th anniversary of the late state founder's birthday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday on April 15.

The birthdays of the founder and his son, late leader Kim Jong-il, are celebrated extravagantly in North Korea, with the founder's birthday glorified as the Day of the Sun.

Wednesday's KCNA report, however, did not use the reverent term and instead referred to the anniversary as "a joyous April holiday," as state media increasingly avoid the designation in an apparent effort to put the spotlight on the current leader, Kim Jong-un.

The KCNA said art troupes, dancers and performers from around the world will participate in the festival.

The Rodong Sinmun, the North Korean ruling party newspaper, had previously announced a flower festival for April as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday.

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