Kim Jong Un’s bizarre North Korea propaganda photos

From a lubricant factory to an orphanage, potato factory or fish-pickling factory, Kim Jong Un has conducted many sporadic visits to odd and quirky North Korean sites throughout the years.

In 2018, Kim conducted “field guidance” at several factories, including a “newly-remodeled” Pyongyang Teacher Training College, a pharmaceutical and trackless trolley factories around the regime’s capital. The despot is often photographed with a massive grin and interacting with factory workers.

Several officials also typically stand in the background taking notes — about something — during the visit, though the only details released about the trips come through KCNA. Kim usually includes praise for the workers.  

At times, he’s joined by his rarely-seen wife, Ri Sol Ju, and his sister, Kim Yo Jong, with the women seen peering at glass cases of beauty products or standing behind the despot with a smile on their faces.

Here are some bizarre photos of Kim during his visits.

2013 to 2016: Kim at a foodstuff factories

Kim was photographed visiting foodstuff factories several times since assuming power in 2011. He inspected biscuits at Foodstuff Factory No. 354 in 2013 while officials took notes behind him. The leader visited Pyongyang Chidren’s Foodstuff Factory in 2014 wearing a large furry hat and lab coat while holding a package of food. Another visit in 2015 had him giggling in front of a glass case of packaged food.

The leader’s visit to Kumkop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspersons came after the facility went through a complete renovation, KCNA reported. The state-run news agency added Kim was “pleased” that production was occurring on a “highly intensive basis.”

August 2014: Kim at a lubricant factory

The leader was all smiles while watching an unknown substance squeeze out of a machine and into a blue canister at the Chonji Lubricant Factory. Kim reportedly praised factory employees for their work and thanked them for producing a product North Korea previously imported. He called for “steadily improving technical specifications” to improve “international competitiveness.”

August 2014: Kim at hosiery factory

Kim gave some “field guidance” at Pyongyang Hosiery Factory and was seen talking to workers as they stood in front of a wall of colorful socks. The North Korean despot made the visit because he was reportedly deeply “concerned” about “consumer goods for people’s life,” Yonhap News Agency reported.

“The production capacity of the factory is very big, he noted, calling for operating all production processes in full capacity so as to meet the demands of people for hosiery,” KCNA said in its statement.

2014 to 2015: Kim at Pyongyang Baby Home and Orphanage

Kim’s first visit to the orphanage was in 2014, when the facility was under construction. Kim returned the next year to a new building filled with bright-colored furniture. He is seen laughing as he played with children and toys. Another photo showed a hoard of toddlers coming toward Kim.

September 2017: Kim at a farm

Kim gave more “field guidance” during a visit to Farm No. 1116, strolling through a field of unknown plants and then picking up a vegetable and inspecting the quality of it. He was also pictured marveling at apples in an orchard.

October 2017: Kim at a footwear factory