North Korea claims sleighing as intangible cultural heritage
North Korea also held an Ice Sculpture Festival to celebrate the birthday of Chairman Kim Jong Il.
Government and Cultural Heritage
North Korea has claimed sledding as “intangible cultural heritage,” referencing a global preservation framework to confer cultural legitimacy on a commonplace winter pastime at a moment when the designation is increasingly used as a tool of soft power.
The designation, announced by North Korean state media, situates sledding within a lineage of folk games dating back to the Joseon dynasty, emphasizing handmade sleds and iron-tipped poles.
North Korea is a party to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, having acceded in 2016.
Sleighing was registered by North Korea’s government as a national intangible cultural heritage in October 2017, according to state media. Since North Korean state media reported the news Monday, it was not immediately clear if a new designation had been made and where.
North Korea opens Kim Jong Un photo exhibition
State media says the show highlights “immortal exploits” from the current party leadership cycle.
Adam Schrader
The news came as North Korea also held an Ice Sculpture Festival to celebrate the birthday of Chairman Kim Jong Il.
“The ice sculptures, displayed at the venue of the festival where the spectacular snowscape of natural forests and splendid light decoration are in good harmony, vividly show all the people's reverence for Chairman Kim Jong Il,” state media reported.
“They make visitors recall with emotion the revolutionary career of the Chairman who had made a high-intensity forced march for prosperity of the country and happiness of the people all his life.”
Like many governments, North Korea has increasingly used cultural designation frameworks to project legitimacy and continuity, repurposing international heritage language for domestic messaging and external signaling.
Iran to hold first national conference on art policymaking
The conference comes as Iranian officials link art policy, heritage preservation and cultural influence amid growing regional competition.
Adam Schrader
Last month, North Korea opened a national photo exhibition celebrating the “immortal exploits” of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, presenting what state media called a period of “gigantic transformation” under his rule.
It showcases photographs from the term of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Eighth Central Committee and presents Kim as the architect of political independence, economic self-reliance and national defense.
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