Kim Jong Un is upset with the "serious shortcomings" of a turtle farm he visited this week and expressed his disappointment that the facility does not raise lobsters or provide more room for North Korean history under the supreme leader's late father.
North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA reported via CNN that Jong Un was unhappy that the Taedonggang Terrapin Farm was not breeding lobsters, and even criticized the "incompetence, outmoded way of thinking and irresponsible work style" of the turtle farm's managers.
The Mirror U.K. reported that terrapin is often served in soup in North Korea and is considered a delicacy there.
Jong Un's complaints did not stop with the absence of lobsters. He was also irked that the farm did not pay proper respect to his father, Kim Jong Il. The younger Kim said it was his father who came up with the idea to "provide the people with tasty and nutritious terrapin widely known as a precious tonic from olden times," according to KCNA.
"It is hard to understand that the farm visited by Kim Jong Il did not arrange even the room for education in revolutionary history," Jong Un reportedly said, CNN noted. "The employees who failed to bear deep in their minds his leadership exploits could hardly perform their role as masters in production."
Jong Un's complaints about the turtle farm came as a surprise to some North Korea observers, as he usually uses such visits to praise his country.
"The country is about to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Korean Workers' Party and there is speculation Kim wanted the terrapins and lobsters for feast days," The Mirror reported. "KCNA gave no reasons for his displeasure at the farm, located on the outskirts of Pyongyang. But public dressing-downs are rare during his field trips, and will be deeply worrying for those on the receiving end."
United Press International pointed out that Kim's trip to the turtle farm comes a week after the leader allegedly ordered the execution of defense chief Hyon Yong Chol for falling asleep at an event the leader attended.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service told the Yonhap News Agency that Hyon was executed in front of hundreds of officials with an anti-aircraft gun.
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