North Korea celebrates 10th anniversary of Kim’s rise to power
Seoul, Apr 11 (EFE).- North Korea is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its leader’s rise to power, state news agency KCNA reported Monday.
“A national meeting took place at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang on April 10 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un’s election as the top Party and state leader,” KCNA said of an event held on Saturday at which the leader was not present.
The ceremony was attended by three of the five members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Choe Ryong-hae, Jo Yong-won and Kim Tok-hun.
In an address, Choe said that Kim had “placed the country on the status of a full-fledged military power.”
A new painted portrait of the North Korean leader was also unveiled during the ceremony, although it is unknown if it will be distributed or displayed on a large scale.
Previous portraits of Kim had been distributed across the country.
State propaganda praised Kim as the “great successor” to his father Kim Jong-il after his death on Dec. 17, 2011.
Ten days later, on Dec. 30, he was appointed supreme commander of the army, the first step in the formalization of the succession process.
However, the regime considers that he formally became the leader of the country on Apr. 11, 2012, when he was appointed “first secretary” of the party and member of the Presidium.
The Korean Revolution Museum in Pyongyang is also hosting an exhibition of photographs and videos on Kim’s achievements, according to KCNA.
Among the items on display is a handwritten letter by Kim from November 2017 declaring that the country had become a “nuclear-capable state” following the successful launch of its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong- 15.
Experts believe that these celebrations are intended to continue gradually cementing Kim’s cult of personality.
April is likely to be a significant month as the regime, which is allegedly preparing for a new nuclear test, celebrates the 110th birth anniversary of the country’s founder, Kim Il-sung, on Apr. 15 with a grand parade.
Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington are expected to kick off joint military exercises next week. EFE
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