North Korea clues revealed through POSTAGE STAMPS – Kim lets slip fears

North Korea has released three new stamps in the hermit kingdom, each of which boasts one of the three Kim dynasty leaders with adoring children.

Kim Il-sung, hailed as an almost god-like figure in the country, is pictured overseeing children eating in a cafeteria – a powerful image in a country regularly ravaged by the twin horrors of famine and starvation.

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Kim Jong-il, his son, is shown in the second stamp. He is pictured with a young boy who is carefully wrapping a socialist-red scarf around his neck, as heavy snow falls to the ground. 

And the third stamp shows current leader Kim Jong-un with young students at a military school, one of whom is clasping his arm in apparent idolisation. 

These stamps are rare opportunities for North Korea observers to analyse the one-party state’s propaganda machine. 

One stamp expert even said this is a purposeful tactic and stamps are issued for foreign eyes as much as for domestic postage use. 

Marcel Jinih of Stamps Journal said: “Despite being a rogue nation, DPRK produces some of the world’s best propaganda stamps and they are certainly not very common.”

He referenced stamp collector Shih Wai Zhongm, who also served as secretary to the Chinese ambassador in North Korea during the 1990s, as he explained their power. 

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Mr Jinih said: “According to the author, the North Korean issuing policy has two main goals: 1) Issues for stamp collectors and (2) Issues for regular postal needs. 

“Stamps issued targeting the collectors are printed on high quality paper and are almost always issued in conjunction with miniature sheets.

“These purely philatelic stamps [stamps for collectors] do not enter the internal postal system apart from being used by foreigners and are largely unknown by the general population.”

He said historically stamps for domestic use are “printed on relatively poor quality paper, thin, soft and yellowish” – although improvements have taken place in recent years.

The importance given to stamps, especially those intended for international viewing, gives us a key insight into North Korea.

Each of the three new stamps focus on one of the three Kim dynasty leaders: Kim il-Sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un. 

This could be interpreted as an attempt to show the power and lasting strength of the Kim family – and North Korea as a whole. 

This is further backed up by fact all three stamps feature images of the leaders interacting with adoring children, the next generation of hermit state soldiers and workers. 

READ MORE: Does North Korea have nuclear weapons?

It could also, however, reveal Kim’s self-doubts and fears regarding his own popularity in North Korea, where he has never received the same level of unwavering support as his father and grandfather. 

But releasing the three stamps simulatenously, Kim could be attempting to position himself squares as their peers and equals. 

The stamps were released as nuclear tension on the peninsula continues to mount.

Yesterday Kim Jong-un accused US leader Donald Trump of “lighting the wick of war”.