DPRK's massive performance on hold after Kim Jong Un criticism

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A months-long gymnastics and artistic extravaganza in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been put on hold indefinitely, days after DPRK leader Kim Jong Un reportedly criticized the opening ceremony, according to various sources.

"#MassGames will be stopped from June 10th until further notice," the Shenzhen-based travel agency Young Pioneer Tours, which organizes tours to the DPRK, tweeted late Wednesday.

Earlier, it had said the performance might be temporarily halted "due to #KimJongUn dissatisfaction with the opening performance," citing unnamed sources.

Another China-based travel agency, Koryo Tours, confirmed the Games were being put on hold in a separate tweet.

"From June 10th there will be a pause for some days/weeks while the show is adjusted before being launched again," it said.

The "Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance" features enormous numbers of people – mostly students and children – performing synchronized moves.

This year's show, titled "The Land of the People," had its premiere on Monday and was expected to run until October.

Musicians perform during a "Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance," or Mass Games, at the May Day stadium in Pyongyang, DPRK, June 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Kim attended the opening at Pyongyang's May Day Stadium alongside top government officials and "extended his warm greetings to the performers, expressing thanks for their performance," the official news agency KCNA reported.

The report went on to say, however, that after the show, Kim "called creators of the performance and seriously criticized them for their wrong spirit of creation and irresponsible work attitude, pointing to the contents and forms of works."

"Noting that the creators and artistes in the literature and art sector have a very important duty in socialist cultural construction, he set forth important tasks for correctly implementing the revolutionary policy of our Party on literature and art," KCNA added.

It is not known what raised Kim's ire but some observers noted that his portrait was used as a backdrop image, along with pictures of his grandfather and father, DPRK founder Kim Il Sung and his successor Kim Jong Il.

It is rare for portraits of Kim Jong Un to be shown publicly and no statues of him are known to exist.

(With input from AFP)

(Cover picture: A backdrop reading "Thank You Father Kim Jong Un" is pictured during a "Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance," or Mass Games, at the May Day stadium in Pyongyang, DPRK, June 4, 2019. /VCG Photo)