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Kim Jong-un to give special bonus to N. Koreans
SEOUL (Yonhap) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will give a special bonus to the country’s military personnel and ordinary people on the occasion of the North’s key anniversary, Pyongyang’s media said Friday.
The special bonus amounting to 100 percent of monthly salaries will be given to all service personnel, working people and those who receive pensions, subsidies and scholarships to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
North Korea is preparing to mark the anniversary which falls on Oct. 10, vowing to launch long-range rockets carrying what it claims is “a series of satellites.” Outside experts view it as a cover for ballistic missile tests.
It would represent the first known case of North Korea providing monetary compensation to all North Koreans based on their monthly wages.
Previously, the communist regime offered products such as blankets or wall clocks to its people on similar occasions.
The KCNA said that the special bonus will be provided to the North’s people for their devotion and loyal service to the WPK.
The decision has been made in accordance with a decree made public on Wednesday by the Supreme People’s Assembly, the North’s rubber-stamp parliament.