North Korea rallies public loyalty ahead of Workers' Party anniversary

North Korea is building a festive mood and stirring public loyalty ahead of the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), with various events underway.

The Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea, one of the country's four labor organizations, held its celebration Wednesday, the Rodong Sinmun reported.

The Rodong Sinmun is the WPK’s official newspaper.

Participants at a debate session called for stronger party leadership and more rigorous ideological education. They also stressed the need to meet the party's grain production targets, the paper said.

Art events have also taken place ahead of Saturday’s anniversary.

A performance by the Youth Central Art Propaganda Team took place Wednesday. On the same day, party cadres and artists attended the opening ceremony of the National Art Exhibition at the Korean Central Art Gallery.

The paper ran a front-page article urging readers to carry on the party's history, ideology and founding spirit.

It also reported that crowds have been visiting the Party Founding Museum in the capital ahead of the anniversary.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday that flower baskets from foreign leaders have begun arriving. Leader Kim Jong-un has received baskets from the presidents of Laos and Palestine, as well as from the corps of military attaches in North Korea, the KCNA said.

Yonhap