North Korea’s Impressive And Devastating “Mass Games”

Published January 25, 2014
Updated November 9, 2023

Taking up several thousand of the stadium’s seats is a fleet of card flippers who create what has been called the Human Jumbotron. North Korean officials claim it is the largest picture in the world. Between ten and thirty thousand school children comprise the changing backdrop, and several hours are taken out of each school day for practice to make sure they are in perfect unison by the day of the performance.

Kim Il Sung

Source: Don Parrish

Mass Games Cards Message

Source: Don Parrish

Mass Games Circles Fireworks

Source: Don Parrish

It is hard to witness these games and not be simultaneously enraptured and appalled. With the effort and manpower put into this showcase, it is hard to believe North Korea does not do better for its people and its economy. Unfortunately for the citizenry, until their leaders are able to put aside their egos and appetites, the Mass Games will remain the only North Korean product that in any way impresses the outside world.

Mass Games Wideshot Animals

Source: Don Parrish

Mass Games Globe Flags

Source: News Hopper

author
Savannah Cox
author
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.
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Cox, Savannah. "North Korea’s Impressive And Devastating “Mass Games”." AllThatsInteresting.com, January 25, 2014, https://allthatsinteresting.com/north-korea-mass-games. Accessed February 12, 2025.