By The South Asia Times

BEIJING - North Korea has aired a new state-produced film dramatizing a failed assassination attempt against former leader Kim Jong Il, in what South Korean media describe as an unprecedented portrayal of a previously taboo subject.

The film, titled “Days and Nights of Confrontation,” was broadcast for the first time on state-run Korean Central Television in January, after being screened in cinemas in Pyongyang since last year.

The production centers on a fictional plot to assassinate Kim Jong Il -- the father of current leader Kim Jong Un -- by sabotaging a train. According to South Korean reports, the storyline follows a would-be attacker portrayed as the son of a “counter-revolutionary” who had previously attempted to kill North Korea’s founding leader, Kim Il Sung.

The film is described as a sequel to the 2022 movie “One Day, One Night,” which depicted an alleged assassination attempt on Kim Il Sung. Both films frame the attackers as traitorous elements acting against the state, reinforcing long-standing themes of loyalty and vigilance in North Korean political messaging.

South Korean media outlets characterized the latest release as a suspense thriller featuring unusually elaborate production elements for North Korean cinema. Reportedly honored with three awards at the Pyongyang International Film Festival, the film includes dramatized train fights, car chases, and large-scale explosions reminiscent of Hollywood-style action sequences.

Observers say the decision to openly portray threats against members of the ruling Kim family marks a notable shift in tone for North Korean propaganda, where the leadership has traditionally been depicted as invulnerable and infallible.

The new release follows another major production, “72 Hours,” which debuted in 2024 and focused on narratives surrounding the Korean War. That film reportedly featured extensive computer-generated imagery and high-intensity combat scenes. State media said Kim Jong Un took a close interest in the project, with reports suggesting he contributed to the script and oversaw aspects of the production.

North Korea’s film industry has long served as a key instrument of state messaging, blending historical dramatization with ideological themes aimed at reinforcing loyalty to the ruling leadership. The latest production underscores Pyongyang’s continued investment in cinematic storytelling as part of its broader propaganda strategy.