Seoul, March 31
North Korea has hosted the first large-scale workshop of instructors for a nationwide children's union, emphasising their role in fostering young people's loyalty to leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Monday.
The large-scale lecture for instructors from across the country was held in Pyongyang from Wednesday to Saturday for the first time in history to urge them to fulfill their responsibilities in nurturing "youth revolutionaries and patriots," Yonhap news agency reported quoting the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The report was referring to a nationwide children's union, known as the "Red Necktie" unit, which students aged 7-16 are required to join. Established in 1946, the union is estimated to have 3 million members.
The KCNA said the event was held at Kim's instruction and that his remarks were delivered during the meeting, though no details were disclosed.
Issues discussed during the lecture included instructors' role as political protectors tasked with nurturing children as youth "revolutionaries and patriots" who remain endlessly faithful to North Korean leader Kim, the report said.
"Children should be taught to appreciate and know the value of the organisation from a young age and to accustom themselves to voluntarily participating in its activities," the KCNA quoted a speaker as saying at the meeting.