A giant bronze statue of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has had something of a makeover – with its overcoat being replaced with a more casual-looking anorak.
The expensive change, which will have presumably seen the entire statue recast, occurrs just months after the original monument was unveiled.
The tribute to the departed Dear Leader was erected alongside one of North Korean founder Kim Il-Sung in Mansudae in Pyongyang in late December.
Quick change for Kim Jong-Il: The staid overcoat is replaced with a parka
Reports from the North Korean Central News Agency at the time of the unveiling described Jong-Il as “his face beaming with a broad smile, standing in padded dress associated with his indefatigable efforts all his life while wishing the great Paektusan nation a rosy future.”
But all of a sudden, gone is Jong-Il’s three-quarter-length, formal jacket with lapels and three buttons.
And the anorak which replaces it, positively drips with poignant significance.
Old faithful: Kim Jong-Il in his 'threadbare and discoloured' parka
At the time of the Jong-Il’s death the same agency gushingly hailed his “threadbare and discoloured” parka as “a symbol of revolution”.
NBC flags up a radio essay entitled Parka of Kim Jong –Il During His Field Guidance on North Korean broadcasting service Voice of Korea, which was aired on the first anniversary of his death.
In a quavering voice, the reader reveals the emotional story behind the great parka, describing it as “a witness of history”.
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The tribute adds: "With ardent yearning for Kim Jong Il .... the Korean people warmly look back again upon his noble life.
"They are reminded of the parka worn by him until the last period of his life.
"His parka was that of a great father, with which he kept all the people on this land from snow, rain and cold."
So there you have it.
Kim Jong Il and his infamous anorak
An undated picture released from North K(01 of31)
An undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on November 25, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inspecting the Ryangchaek Bearing Factory in North Pyongan province. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND(02 of31)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA This picture recieved from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on December 3, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting the Hamhung Disabled Soldiers' Essential Plastic Goods Factory. HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND(03 of31)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA This picture recieved from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on December 3, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting the Hamhung Disabled Soldiers' Essential Plastic Goods Factory. HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND(04 of31)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA This picture recieved from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on December 3, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (R) visiting the Hamhung University of Hydraulic Engineering. HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND(05 of31)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA This picture recieved from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on December 3, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting the Hamhung University of Hydraulic Engineering. HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND(06 of31)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA This picture recieved from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on December 3, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (2nd R) visiting the construction site of Tanchon Port. HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND(07 of31)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA This picture recieved from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on December 3, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (4th L) visiting the Tanchon Mining Machine Plant. HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released by Korean(08 of31)
This undated picture released by Korean Central News Agency on January 17, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (C) inspecting the Pyongyang Silk Mill factory during a visit to the light industrial establishments in the North Korean capital. North Korea said January 17, it may keep its nuclear weapons even after normalising relations with the United States, staking out a tough position three days before President-elect Barack Obama takes office. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND(09 of31)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA This picture recieved from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on December 3, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting the Paekunsan Combined Foodstuff Factory. HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND(10 of31)
HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA This picture recieved from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on December 3, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting the Paekunsan Combined Foodstuff Factory. HANDOUT RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AND EDITORIAL SALES - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / KNS-KCNA (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated photo released by North Kor(11 of31)
This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on February 8, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting the Vinalon Complex in Hambung City, South Hamgyong Province. North Korea has said it had a secret strike force to counter what it called South Korean plots to topple the regime in Pyongyang. The communist North, which often claims that Seoul's conservative government is plotting against it, said such attempts have 'recently gone beyond the danger line.' AFP PHOTO/KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(12 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 4, 2010 shows North Korean laeder Kim Jong Il inspecting the Wonphyong Taehung Fishery Station in Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province in North Korea. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture, released from Nort(13 of31)
This undated picture, released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 11, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting the Kumsugol revolutionary site in Huichon city in Chagang province of North Korea. North Korea, which habitually protests war games in the democratic South, put its 1.2 million-strong military on alert and said it was abandoning efforts toward nuclear disarmament in response to the start of US joint exercises with South Korea. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(14 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 4, 2010 shows North Korean laeder Kim Jong Il inspecting the Wonphyong Taehung Fishery Station in Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province in North Korea. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(15 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 4, 2010 shows North Korean laeder Kim Jong Il inspecting the Wonphyong Taehung Fishery Station in Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province in North Korea. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(16 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on November 28, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inspecting the Command of Navy Combined Unit 587 at undisclosed location in North Korea. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(17 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on January 13, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inspecting a pig farm built by Large Combined Unit 313 of the Korean People's Army at an undisclosed location in North Korea. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated photo released by North Kor(18 of31)
This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on January 11, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (C) inspecting the Kangdong Weak-current Apparatus Factory in Pyingyang. Kim has admitted failing to deliver an acceptable standard of living for the communist nation's people, state media reported January 9, 2010. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(19 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on November 28, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inspecting the Oguk Co-op Farm in Anak County in South Hwanghae province. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated photo released by North Kor(20 of31)
This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on February 8, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting the Vinalon Complex in Hambung City, South Hamgyong Province. North Korea has said it had a secret strike force to counter what it called South Korean plots to topple the regime in Pyongyang. The communist North, which often claims that Seoul's conservative government is plotting against it, said such attempts have 'recently gone beyond the danger line.' AFP PHOTO/KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(21 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on November 28, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inspecting the Oguk Co-op Farm in Anak County in South Hwanghae province. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture, released from Nort(22 of31)
This undated picture, released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on November 28, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inspecting the Oguk Co-op Farm in Anak County in South Hwanghae province. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(23 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on November 25, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inpsecting the Sinuiju Shoes Factory in North Pyongan province. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(24 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on November 25, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il wearing a straw hat as he visits a factory in North Pyongan province. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(25 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 5, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) inspecting the lodging house of visitors and cultural and welfare facilities, newly built at the side of Lake Samji in the area of Samjiyon in Ryanggang province. Meanwhile China and the US agreed on March 4, 2009 that North Korea should not go ahead with a missile launch, a US envoy said after talks with Chinese officials in Beijing. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(26 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on March 1, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (R) visiting the Manpho restaurant in the city of Manpho, in Jagang province. Meanwhile, North Korea on February 28 warned US troops stationed in South Korea to stop 'provocations' in the buffer zone dividing the two Koreas or face a 'resolute counteraction.' AFP PHOTO/KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This recent undated picture released fro(27 of31)
This recent undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 25, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (R) looking at a statue of his mother Kim Jong-Suk as he visits her birthplace in Hoeryong in North Hamkyong province in North Korea. Kim Jong-Il visited several venues in the northeastern province of North Hamkyong where preparations for a controversial rocket launch are under way, state media reported. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(28 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on March 1, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il visiting the Manpho Smeltery in the city of Manpho, in Jagang province. Meanwhile, North Korea on February 28 warned US troops stationed in South Korea to stop 'provocations' in the buffer zone dividing the two Koreas or face a 'resolute counteraction.' AFP PHOTO/KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This undated picture released from North(29 of31)
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on March 1, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) inspecting the Manpho spinning mill in the city of Manpho, in Jagang province. Meanwhile, North Korea on February 28 warned US troops stationed in South Korea to stop 'provocations' in the buffer zone dividing the two Koreas or face a 'resolute counteraction.' AFP PHOTO/KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This recent undated picture released fro(30 of31)
This recent undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 25, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (C) visiting his mother Kim Jong Suk's birthplace in Hoeryong in North Hamkyong province in North Korea. Kim Jong-Il visited several venues in the northeastern province of North Hamkyong where preparations for a controversial rocket launch are under way, state media reported. Kim also visited the birthplace in Hoeryong town of his mother Kim Jong-Suk, who died in 1949 when he was seven. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
This recent undated picture released fro(31 of31)
This recent undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 25, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (R) standing infront of a statue of his mother Kim Jong-Suk as he visits her birthplace in Hoeryong in North Hamkyong province in North Korea. Kim Jong-Il visited several venues in the northeastern province of North Hamkyong where preparations for a controversial rocket launch are under way, state media reported. AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Inside North Korea
The Body(01 of14)
Kim Jong Il lies in state during his massive funeral. (credit:AP)
(02 of14)
A 3-second exposure of the motion at the 100,000 person Mass Games performance. The background is made up of 30,000 kids holding sign boards. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(03 of14)
Women re-enact the birth of Eternal Leader Kim Il Sung at the Mass Games performance. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(04 of14)
Human pixels. Kids hold signs creating an image of a North Korean flag. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(05 of14)
Rows of performers. Mass Games. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(06 of14)
Women dancers performing at the Mass Games. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(07 of14)
Soldiers watching the Mass games. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(08 of14)
A tribute to Kim Il Sung at the Mass Games. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(09 of14)
Rows of apartments in Pyongyang. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(10 of14)
Adults in North Korea are required to wear a pin with the image of Kim Il Sung. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(11 of14)
A young boy dressed in his pioneer uniform. Taken at the Pyongyang Fun Fare. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(12 of14)
Symmetry. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(13 of14)
A kid plays in front of a tram in Pyongyang. The statue of Kim Il Sung is in the background. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)
(14 of14)
Big streets, few people. An afternoon in Kaesong. (Sam Gellman Photography) (credit:Sam Gellman)