system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does Kim Jong Un always have a following of military officials?

It looks like he's part of the League of Doom, but using the buddy system to not get separated... In every picture I see of him, he's always inspecting something with a bunch of military officials following him around, either taking notes or just standing there. Why?
gpt
Both previously posted answers are not answering OP's question. It's not about Kim inspecting military units, it's about the entourage following him around, even when he is visiting apparently Civilian facilities.

There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, even apparently Civilian projects like the infamous ski resort, many factories and other projects are managed and run by the military, which controls large parts of the economy - or what's left of it. So some of those people following Kim around on his visits (or "guidance tours", as the North Korean propaganda calls it) are actually just in charge there and are expected to immediately enact any changes Kim suggests. That's the reason for their note taking.

Secondly, some of those officials are simply members of the inner circle. Un's uncle was very often participating for example. You have to imagine North Korea's elite around Kim Jong-Un traveling around the country via train and helicopter, visiting military units, farms and factories in an attempt to appear close to the people. Those visits are not just visits. Kim Il-Sung, Un's grandfather, was painted as a genius among men by the propaganda and with it comes the expectation that he's infallible and an expert in every field. His son and grandson have "inherited" this quality. The idea is, as previously mentioned, that they are giving crucial advice to the people during their visits.

Of course, this is mostly bogus. There are a few dozen farms, factories and shops specifically created for propaganda purposes and those facilities receive a majority of those visits - while producing nothing or very little. Sometimes foreigners are shown around there and most quickly realize their real purpose.