Kim Jong Un’s Speech at the 5th National Mothers Meeting
First Public Mention of Birth Rate
The South Korean Ministry of Unification stated on the 5th that Kim Jong Un mentioned the birth rate for the first time in a public speech. At the National Mothers Meeting, he said, “North Korea also seems concerned about the low birth rate.”
A ministry official mentioned, “Apart from the previous emphasis on fertility discussed in a past meeting, there was also mention of preventing a decline in the birth rate, which suggests that North Korea is experiencing a low birth rate.”
The official also assessed that “it holds significance that Kim Jong Un delivered the opening speech at the National Mothers Meeting and spoke at the closing ceremony.” It means Kim is bestowing great importance on this event.
According to the South Korean Ministry of Unification, Kim Il Sung gave a speech at the first meeting in 1961. Later, Kim Jong Il did not attend the 2nd and 3rd meetings (1998·2005). Kim Jong Un only took commemorative photos at the 4th meeting (2012).
Moreover, according to the World Population Prospects 2022 report by the United Nations Population Fund, the estimated total fertility rate in North Korea this year is 1.79. This figure falls below the threshold of 2.1, which is considered the necessary rate to sustain a stable population level.
The Ministry of Unification also paid attention to the emphasis on the importance of home education at this event.
Speculation on Promoting Kim Jong Un’s Daughter
A South Korean official elaborated that in Kim’s speech, there seems to be an intention to prevent ideological deviation among the younger generation and to uphold the regime. This is accomplished by emphasizing the importance of home education as a method to tackle non-socialist issues.
Some analyses indicate that the increased focus on the role of mothers and women in North Korea is intended to promote Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae. However, it was mentioned, “While this aspect is drawing attention, it’s too early to draw such a conclusion based only on the messages that have surfaced recently.” This response indicates a careful approach to interpreting the recent developments and their potential implications.
By. Choi Yoon Sun
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