North Korea (P CS16) 2000 won banknote (2012) - UNC - imprint

In 2012, North Korea marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, a leader who became a central figure in North Korean history. This significant milestone has been described as the "age of great prosperity" and has become an opportunity to reinforce the cult of personality towards the man the regime regards as the "Eternal President."

Kim Il-sung was born on April 15, 1912, in Mangyardong, near Pyongyang. He was involved in the struggle against the Japanese occupation of Korea from a young age and later became a leading figure in the North Korean communist movement. After the end of the Second World War and the division of the Korean peninsula into two parts, Kim Il-sung was installed as leader of North Korea, where he established a political system based on the ideology of Juche - self-reliance.

The celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth was held in a grand spirit. Military parades, mass acrobatic and dance performances were held in Pyongyang, and a number of new monuments were unveiled in honour of the state's founder. The most notable event was the inauguration of the "eternal maypole" - a new variety of begonia that scientists have named in his honour.

The celebrations highlighted Kim Il-sung's legacy as the father of the nation and the visionary who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to independence. The regime also took the opportunity to reinforce the legitimacy of his grandson, the current leader Kim Jong-un, who had taken power shortly before after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.

Although these celebrations were a key propaganda tool for the North Korean regime, the rest of the world often saw them as a demonstration of isolation and mass manipulation of the population. However, Kim Il-sung's legacy remains central to North Korean ideology today and an important factor in understanding the country's current policies.