North Korea: On the eve of huge birth anniversary festivities of its late leaders, North Korea has decided to offer condemned persons amnesty, which would take effect later this month, according to Pyongyang's state media.

To honour the 110th and 80th birth anniversaries of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, respectively, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly will award pardons to anyone convicted of "crimes against the country and people," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. According to sources, the amnesty will take effect on January 30, and the government and related organs will take "practical measures" to assist them in resuming normal working lives.

Kim Jong-il, the late father of current leader Kim Jong-un, was born on February 16th, and his late grandfather Kim Il-sung was born on April 15th, both of which are significant dates.

The amnesty appears to be part of measures to create societal togetherness in the face of economic woes, with long-term border controls in place to ward off the Covid-19 outbreak and build loyalty for the country's long-serving leader. In August 2020, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party's establishment, the North declared their previous amnesty.

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