The performance, titled “Glory to the Great Era,” featured perfectly coordinated gymnastics, mosaic card displays, and choreographed dances all echoing familiar themes: national strength, sacrifice, and eternal devotion to Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
Broadcast footage showed Kim attending the event with senior officials, smiling and applauding as children and adults alike formed massive human murals depicting the national flag, revolutionary slogans, and images of the Kim dynasty.
A Show of Discipline and Control
First held in the 1940s and refined under Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the Mass Games are a hallmark of North Korea’s propaganda apparatus. Often involving over 100,000 performers, the event combines ideology with art to present a nation in perfect harmony—disciplined, obedient, and united.
“Every aspect of the Mass Games is about control,” said Dr. Laura Bae, a scholar of North Korean culture at Georgetown University. “The sheer precision required to pull it off sends a clear message: this is a society where conformity is not only expected, but celebrated.”
Participants, many of them schoolchildren, train for months—sometimes years—under strict supervision. Defectors have described grueling rehearsal schedules and harsh punishment for errors, revealing the darker side of the pageantry.
Symbolism Over Substance
This year’s production placed strong emphasis on military power and economic resilience, with segments devoted to the country’s space program, agricultural advances, and “defensive deterrence.” Giant backdrop screens flashed images of missiles, harvest fields, and satellite launches as performers formed slogans like “Self-Reliance” and “Unbreakable Will.”
Observers noted the conspicuous absence of any mention of foreign diplomacy or denuclearization—suggesting a return to more hardline messaging following years of sporadic international engagement.
“North Korea is reminding the world, and its own people, that it’s not waiting for negotiations or handouts,” said Jonathan Field, a regional security analyst. “This is pure domestic signaling wrapped in nationalist theater.”
A Tool of Indoctrination
More than just a performance, the Mass Games are an exercise in indoctrination. From the youngest students to factory workers, participants are handpicked for ideological loyalty as much as physical skill.
“Every movement is political,” said Hyun-seo Lee, a defector and author. “It’s about proving you belong to the system—that you are part of the collective, and the collective serves the leader.”
The event is also a rare occasion when the regime allows foreign journalists and tourists limited access—carefully managed and always under surveillance—to craft an image of cultural vibrancy and unity.
Spectacle with a Strategic Purpose
Though outwardly festive, the Mass Games serve a deeper strategic purpose. They provide the leadership with an opportunity to reinforce loyalty, project stability, and showcase the regime’s organizational capabilities.
“It's propaganda in its most perfected form,” said Dr. Robert Carlin, a former U.S. government adviser on North Korea. “It presents the illusion of strength, harmony, and prosperity—whether or not those things exist beyond the stadium.”
Conclusion
With the revival of the Mass Games, North Korea has once again reminded the world of its ability to command awe through spectacle—and obedience through performance. Beneath the vibrant colors and flawless formations lies a message as choreographed as the show itself: in Kim Jong-un’s North Korea, unity is not just a virtue—it is a requirement.