![North Korea launches "Friendly Father" song and music video praising Kim Jong Un](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/04/19/e449ca61-75cd-482e-b801-be3a21f73211/thumbnail/1200x630/d64f23459d14920058e60f94eb167b1c/kim-jong-un-friendly-father-song.jpg?v=55c0f85ebcd2b956528d9c6f5a7e8871)
North Korea launches "Friendly Father" song and music video praising Kim Jong Un
CBSN
Tokyo — In North Korea, the release of Taylor Swift's new double album was completely eclipsed by the surprise drop of another brand-new song, complete with an elaborately produced music video. There were no tortured poets in sight for the release of "Friendly Father," an energetic pop-style piece of state propaganda praising North Korea's dictatorial leader Kim Jong Un.
The accompanying music video, dropped on the North Korean public by its state-controlled media this week, features dozens of seemingly ecstatic residents of all ages belting out catchy lines such as: "May this night never end, dear beautiful night of Pyongyang. The people believe and follow him with one heart! Let's boast of Kim Jong Un, a friendly father!"
The tune has all the subtlety of a beerhall polka — and the makings of a propaganda classic.
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Beijing — China on Friday lashed out at what it called U.S. "coercion" after Panama declined to renew a key infrastructure agreement with Beijing following Washington's threat to take back the Panama Canal. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a briefing that China "firmly opposes the U.S. smearing and undermining the Belt and Road cooperation through means of pressure and coercion."