Kim Jong-un, North Korean leader, honors the memory of chief propagandist on anniversary of his death

Kim Ki-nam, a key figure in propping up North Korea’s totalitarian dynasty with powerful cults of personality, was honored in a state funeral attended by leader Kim Jong-un. Kim Ki-nam, who passed away at the age of 94 after battling age-related illnesses and organ failures, was instrumental in building personality cults around the country’s three dynastic leaders.

Having worked with the North Korean government for over 50 years, Kim Ki-nam held the position of Propaganda and Agitation Department deputy director since 1966. North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong-un paid his respects at the funeral hall in Pyongyang and led the state funeral committee.

Described as a devoted defender of the revolution’s ideological purity, Kim Ki-nam was credited with ensuring the victory of the socialist cause. North Korea’s tightly controlled media has been a tool for the government to maintain power and control over its citizens, with strict censorship laws in place.

The United Nations Commission of Inquiry has previously condemned North Korea for its human rights abuses, labeling them as crimes against humanity. The government’s control over information and media extends to a recent law banning “anti-socialist ideology and culture,” with severe penalties for those found in possession of unauthorized content.

Kim Ki-nam’s legacy as a propagandist and key figure in maintaining the regime’s grip on power highlights the extent to which powerful cults of personality have been used to uphold North Korea’s totalitarian dynasty.