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North Korea Labels South Korea 'No. 1 Hostile Country' at Propaganda Centre

North Korea's state media has published photos from a Pyongyang indoctrination centre featuring banners that label South Korea as the "No. 1 hostile country." The propaganda facility is designed to foster public animosity towards Seoul and Washington. The displayed messages specifically accuse South Korea of creating a confrontational frenzy aimed at ending the North's regime. This follows leader Kim Jong-un's recent declarations that inter-Korean relations are now between two hostile states.

Key Points: North Korea Calls South Korea 'No. 1 Hostile Country'

  • Major indoctrination centre displays hostile banners
  • Accuses Seoul of confrontation frenzy
  • Cites South Korean Constitution article
  • Kim Jong-un escalates hostile state rhetoric
2 min read

North Korea calls South Korea 'No. 1 hostile country' at indoctrination centre

North Korea displays anti-Seoul banners at a Pyongyang indoctrination centre, escalating rhetoric and defining South Korea as its "unchanging archenemy."

"South Korea is the No. 1 hostile country and the unchanging archenemy - KCNA banners"

Seoul, Jan 19

A major indoctrination facility in North Korea displayed banners calling South Korea the "No. 1 hostile country" and inciting public animosity against Seoul, photos released by the North's media showed on Monday.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published the photos while reporting on North Koreans touring the Central Class Education House in Pyongyang as part of celebrations marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, the country's largest youth organisation.

The class education house is a propaganda facility that fosters antagonism toward Seoul and Washington among the public, Yonhap News Agency reported, quoting KCNA.

The KCNA photos showed rows of uniformed soldiers listening to a guide in a hall displaying banners, photos and painted messages against South Korea.

The banners read, "South Korea is the No. 1 hostile country and the unchanging archenemy," and accused Seoul of creating a "confrontational frenzy" aimed at upending North Korea and "ending the regime."

The messages included an article of South Korea's Constitution defining the country's territory as the entire Korean Peninsula, in what appears to be an accusation that Seoul intends to unify the North by absorption.

In a parliamentary address in September last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un denounced the constitutional article as codifying what he called "the most hostile true colour by nature."

At a year-end party meeting in December 2023, Kim declared inter-Korean relations as those between "two states hostile to each other" and has since pursued hostile policies toward Seoul, including a pledge during a parliamentary speech in 2024 to strengthen education aimed at getting the public to regard the South as the No. 1 hostile country and archenemy of the North.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The level of state-controlled propaganda is shocking. Indoctrinating youth like this is a tragedy. It shows how important a free press and critical thinking are for any society.
A
Aman W
From an Indian strategic perspective, this constant tension is bad for regional stability. It affects trade routes and security. Hope cooler heads prevail and dialogue starts again.
S
Sarah B
Reading this while having South Korean friends. It's heartbreaking. The people on both sides are the same, just ordinary folks wanting to live their lives. The leadership needs to change this narrative.
V
Vikram M
Honestly, while North Korea's methods are extreme, isn't there some truth to their fear? If a powerful neighbor's constitution claims your land, wouldn't you feel threatened? South Korea might need to review its stance for peace.
K
Karthik V
This is pure distraction politics. Kim Jong-un is probably using this "external enemy" narrative to divert attention from internal problems like the economy. A classic playbook, sadly.

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