North Korean media have published photos of senior officials wearing badges featuring the portrait of leader Kim Jong Un at a key meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee.
This is the first confirmation of such badges, indicating accelerated efforts to iconize Kim in the North.
The Sunday edition of the party’s newspaper, Rodong Sinmun carried photos from the second day of the plenary meeting.
The images show senior officials giving speeches while wearing the badges on their chests.
It is compulsory in North Korea to wear portrait pins to express loyalty to the leadership. So far, these badges have mainly featured Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and father, Kim Jong Il.
North Korean media last month showed a portrait of the current leader displayed alongside those of his two predecessors at a party cadre training school.
Kim Jong Un is believed to have turned 40 in January. More than a decade has passed since he became North Korea’s leader.