Trends in KCNA Reporting on 77th Anniversary of Regime’s Founding
The Result of In-Depth Analysis of KCNA Coverage of Congratulatory Messages
Conclusion and Policy Implications
September 9, 2025, was the 77th anniversary of the establishment of the North Korean regime. During China’s 80th Victory Day celebration, the North Korean delegation appeared alongside Chinese and Russian leaders at Tiananmen Rostrum, attracting global attention. The scene of Kim Jong-Un and Putin standing on either side of Xi Jinping at the center could even be seen as a declaration of war by the authoritarian bloc against the liberal bloc. They were joined by authoritarian leaders from Iran, Myanmar, and several African nations, underscoring the emerging unity among the four principal anti-Western powers ― China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. In this situation, North Korea appears to be strengthening its legitimacy and showcasing its changing stature within the authoritarian bloc through its reporting on the congratulatory messages for the 77th anniversary of regime’s founding. This article analyzes the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) coverage on congratulatory messages over the period of a week from September 3 to September 10, in order to examine how North Korea used the anniversary celebration to secure external legitimacy, and identifies policy implications.
