Kim Sung-nam, director of North Korea's Worker's Party international affairs department, wears a badge of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the 10th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, Saturday. Yonhap

North Korean officials have been seen wearing badges bearing the portrait of their leader Kim Jong-un for the first time, suggesting an accelerated effort to glorify the leader.

The badge was prominently displayed on the chests of high-ranking officials attending the 10th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party, in photos released by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and published in the Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun.

Such imagery is intended to symbolize loyalty and reverence to the current leader, and the badges must be worn by all North Koreans, from ordinary citizens to the highest-ranking officials, as part of the Kim family's personality cult.

The badge of Kim Jong-un also indicates a departure from the traditional practice of featuring portraits of previous leaders, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, who are the current leader's grandfather and father.

The Kim Il-sung portrait badge began to be produced and distributed in November 1970.

The Kim Jong-il portrait badges started being made on Feb. 16, 1992, to commemorate his 50th birthday. However, due to Kim Jong-il's opposition, only some officials wore them initially. It was not until the 2000s that ordinary citizens began to wear them.

After Kim Jong-il's death, badges featuring portraits of both Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il were widely distributed to the public and it became common for people to wear them.

The shift towards emphasizing Kim Jong-un's individual portrayal on these badges reflects an intensified campaign to underscore his leadership, according to North Korea watchers.

"This is the pinnacle of idol worship. It would formalize Kim Jong-un's elevation to the ranks of his predecessors, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il," Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, said. "Typically, when banners like this emerge, they signify the strengthening of supreme leader dictatorship. Therefore, it seems Kim Jong-un, armed with nuclear capabilities, might engage in vigorous activities across politics, economy, diplomacy and security in the future."