North Korean calendars don't celebrate Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's birthday
North Korea's newly published New Year calendar doesn't mention leader Kim Jong-un's birthday, six years after he assumed power. The birthdays of Kim's father Kim Jong-il is celebrated as a public holiday on February 16 every year as the Day of the Shining Star. His grandfather Kim Il-sung's birthday is similarly celebrated on April 15 as the Day of the Sun. Here's more.
Kim's birthday believed to be on January 8
Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's birthday is believed to lie on January 8. In 2018, this day will reportedly be marked as a normal working Monday. Unlike his predecessors, it remains unknown why Kim's birthday hasn't been publicly confirmed or celebrated as a public holiday.
How Dennis Rodman came closest to confirming Kim's birthday
In 2014, North Korea came closes to acknowledging Kim's birthday. During his visit to Pyongyang, famed NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman sang "Happy Birthday" to Kim after an exhibition game. A video of Rodman's performance could be seen by viewers living outside North Korea. Within the country, citizens were informed that Rodman had "sung him a special song."
Sale of propaganda calendars is falling
North Korean calendars are available at hotels and bookstores in the country and in select North Korean restaurants in foreign countries. The calendars were earlier used as propaganda tools and primarily showed the Kim family or the military. However, the sale of propaganda calendars is reportedly falling. In recent years they've started featuring domestically manufactured goods such as liquor, ginseng or consumer goods.
