North Korea’s 2025 calendar removes ‘Juche Calendar’… ‘Day of the Sun’ and ‘Day of the Shining Star’ are included

Kim Jong-un’s Birthday Still Unrecorded, The North Korean authorities have reportedly removed the ‘Juche era’ notation from the 2025 New Year calendar distributed to North Korean companies in China. The report was made by Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 15th.,
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, ‘According to an RFA source in Dandong, China, “The new year calendar does not include the North Korean-style Juche era year, but the holidays Gwangmyeongseong Day and Day of the Sun are still presented as before,” and they found it surprising since there was prior instruction earlier in April not to use the phrases for the Day of the Sun and Gwangmyeongseong Day.’,
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, ‘The source noted that the 2025 calendar, distributed to North Korean companies stationed in Dandong on the 12th, was marked as published by the Foreign Language Publishing House of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.’,
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, ‘The source explained, “The newly distributed calendar features images lighting up the night streets of Pyongyang, showcasing areas such as the newly constructed Hwasong Street, as well as Jeonwi Street, Limheung Street, Kyongru-dong, Songhwa Street, Ryeomyong Street, and Mirae Scientists Street.” ‘,
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, ‘The source further stated, “In the past, calendars published by the North Korean authorities were all created as propaganda material showcasing state-directed policies. This calendar boasts the results of housing constructions undertaken around various parts of Pyongyang following Kim Jong-un’s capital city construction directives.” ‘,
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, ‘However, the source noted, “The capital Pyongyang depicted in the new year calendar appears quite deserted at night, with few pedestrians and empty roads, reflecting a calm atmosphere. I heard from North Korean company officials that due to power shortages, electricity is supplied on a scheduled basis, making it hard to see much at night.” ‘,
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, ‘They added, “The images with lit-up streets seem to promote the splendor of Pyongyang, not revealing the true reality of power shortages in the capital.” ‘,
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, ‘Another source from Shenyang, China, on the same day noted, “The North Korean consulate in Shenyang has distributed new year calendars to North Korean companies stationed in the three northeastern provinces of China starting today,” reporting to RFA that “The holidays on the new calendar do not differ from the original version.” ‘,
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, ‘They continued, “The term ‘Juche’ is no longer present in the 2025 calendar, although the terms referring to Kim Jong-il’s and Kim Il-sung’s birthdays—Gwangmyeongseong Day and Day of the Sun—remain.” Kim Jong-un’s birthday (January 8) has not been officially noted yet. ‘,
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, ‘Additionally, “Since the start of this year, North Korea has been moving away from idolization markers of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il,” they said, explaining that “the current marking of Gwangmyeongseong Day and the Day of the Sun in the distributed 2025 calendar is seen as an exceptional case.” ‘,
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, “Meanwhile, the Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, marked ‘Juche 113 (2024)’ next to the year until October 12 but began omitting it starting from October 13.”,
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, “The ‘Juche era’ is a year notation system that considers 1912, Kim Il-sung’s birth year, as Juche 1. It is named after the ‘Juche ideology’ proposed by Kim Il-sung. Subsequently, North Korea established a ‘Juche era usage guideline’ and has used it across various documents, publications, and stamps.”