"first symphony ever in history to be built on the theme of the immortality of the leader"

I suppose this means the Dear Leader favors program music:

Quite a few symphonies of new themes have been created in the DPRK in past years.

The typical of them are "The Leader Is Always with Us", "Victory in Great Anti-Janpanese War" and "Please Receive Our Salute" which have been performed before enthusiastically acclaiming people.

Insufficient enthusiasm means re-education camp, of course. Not that re-education camp is appreciably different from the rest of the country, but the individual food allotment is lower.

These symphonies truthfully represent the earnest desire of the army and the people to hold President Kim Il Sung, the founder of socialist Korea, always in high esteem and uphold the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.

You have to see the accompanying Songun mime gestures to really appreciate it.

"The Leader Is Always with Us," the first symphony ever in history to be built on the theme of the immortality of the leader, well represents the imperishable revolutionary feats of the President and the unshakable faith and will of the Korean people to successfully carry forward the revolutionary cause of Juche pioneered by him to accomplishment.

The new symphonies include a number of works played on the theme of the struggle of the popular masses to achieve independence.

The audience are carried into stunned amazement by "The Flower Girl" and "The Fate of a Self-defence Corps Man", symphonies which render a musical delineation to the profound philosophical truth that struggle is the only way out for the oppressed working masses.

Out of what? The concert hall?

Some symphonies evolve on the subject of our-nation-first spirit.

One of them is the symphony "Pyongyang Is Best" which consists of three movements evolving on the musical themes of "At Crossroads of Destiny", "Flocks of Wild Geese Fly" and "Pyongyang Is Best", songs of the multi-part film "The Nation and Destiny".

This work gives a profound symphonic rendition to the idea that socialist Korea centered on the popular masses is the best in the world.

Tags: music, North Korea, Juche-coupes