Chinese travel agency specializing in North Korea tourism “Notification of the abolition of the name of ‘Sunday’ in North Korea”
A Chinese travel agency specializing in tourism in North Korea confirmed that North Korea has entered the process of abolishing the name “Sunday” and announced that it will no longer use the term.
According to the Korea Tour in Beijing, China, on the 28th, the company said in a post on its website on the 25th, “We have been informed by our North Korean partner that the phrase ‘Sunday Day’ is being phased out in North Korea,” adding, “[Sun Day] is no longer used.”
“This fact has not been announced by North Korea’s state media,” Koryo Tour said, but explained, “The gradual removal of these phrases is generally not announced, and ‘Sunday’ may be one of these examples.”
“We have repeatedly confirmed from our North Korean partners that this step will not actually be used anymore,” he said. “We will reflect this change throughout the website.”
North Korea established Kim Il-sung’s birthday (April 15) as the Day of the Sun in 1997 and held various cultural events related to the Day of the Sun before and after the anniversary, creating a celebratory atmosphere. However, this year, the term Sun Day has not been used in state media since February 17, and the term appeared only in one article on the 15th, the day of Sun Day. Through this, it was analyzed that North Korea intentionally replaced or deleted the term Sun Day.
The Ministry of Unification also met with reporters on the 16th and said, “Based on the various circumstances conducted to mark Kim Il-sung’s birthday this year, we tentatively believe that the name has changed (from the Day of the Sun to April 15).”