Kim Jong Un Splits His Time Between Potatoes and Politics
When the North Korean leader was expected to host U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a quiet visit to Pyongyang, the surprise reality turned out to be a tambourine‑tuned walk through a potato patch.
The Potato Fact‑Check
According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un spent a full week in the remote Samjiyon county—right on the China border—fanning out his top aides to manage a sprawling Junghung Potato Farm. In a rather lofty press note, the secretive news agency detailed how the leader was not just telling the farmers to plant high‑yield potatoes but also to “introduce more tastier varieties”, ensuring “the quality of processed potato foods in production” and accordingly boosting the nation’s potato prestige.
The headlines beckoned to the mystical Mount Paektu nearby—the shrine of rebellion according to Pyongyang’s propaganda—but the official narrative painted Samjiyon as the “sacred land of the revolution.” Kim even called the local officials “model workers” and promised the region would transform into a quasi‑utopia of communist charm.
- Location: Samjiyon County, border with China
- Key focus: Potato farming upgrades
- Message: “Raise the quality of potato production”
- Political twist: Referred to the area as revolutionary homeland
Pompeo’s Silent Pasquerita
While the world’s eyes were glued to Pyongyang from Friday to Saturday, Pompeo was slated for a face‑to‑face with Kim Jong Un to push the bare‑bones denuclearisation deal that came out of last month’s summit between Kim and President Donald Trump. Instead, the U.S. Secretary found himself in a polite little meeting with Kim Yong Chol, the right‑hand man of the dictator.
Pompeo claimed the talks were “making progress,” but after his brief leave, the North kicked him off the back‑bench with a stern critique of his “unilateral, gangster‑like demands” and a claim that he offered no constructive steps.
Trump’s Tweets and The North’s Throw‑away
Trump, in his usual Twitter flare, tweeted on Monday: “Confidence that Kim will honour the denuclearisation contract signed at the summit and also accusing China of trying to undermine the deal.” “A true partnership!” he added, while the U.S. diplomatic corridor was left to process a not‑quite‑solid partnership.
So there you have it: while Pompeo had to trade a high‑stakes interview for a diplomat’s coffee, Kim Jong Un was deep in the trenches of potato policy—proving that no nation really can evade the humble everyday tasks of a leader, even when the world is watching.
