NK's heir apparent on show at military parade
Source: Agencies |
October 11, 2010, Monday
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NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son, heir apparent Kim Jong Un, appeared together at a massive military parade yesterday held amid celebrations marking the foundation of the country's ruling party.
The two Kims stood on a reviewing stand at Pyongyang's central Kim Il Sung Square, named after the country's national founder, where goose-stepping military personnel marched by and military hardware, including tanks, passed below.
The festivities were broadcast on state television, giving the North Korean people one of their first good looks at their future leader.
The elder Kim entered the venue to huge cheers from the crowd. He was accompanied by his son and other top officials including Kim Yong Nam, president of the country's parliament.
The parade was part of celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the Workers' Party of Korea. The party last month held a landmark political convention, its most significant gathering in 30 years, at which Kim Jong Un was promoted to vice chairman of the party's central military commission.
Kim Jong Un, who was not dressed in military uniform as some analysts had expected, saluted the military personnel as they goose-stepped past the reviewing stand. He wore the same dark outfit he has been seen recently since making his public debut late last month.
Earlier, a North Korean flag was raised with military officers in full dress uniform watching as a band played rousing music and the large crowd looked on.
"If the US imperialists and their followers infringe on our sovereignty and dignity even slightly, we will blow up the stronghold of their aggression with a merciless and righteous retaliatory strike by mobilizing all physical means, including self-defensive nuclear deterrent force, and achieve the historic task of unification," Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the North Korean army, said before troops began marching.
The scale of the weekend festivities - less than two weeks after the news that Kim Jong Il's 20-something son would succeed him and grandfather as leader - suggested something special.
Kim Jong Un is the third son of Kim Jong Il but his name never appeared in state media until late last month, and even the exact spelling of his name was unclear.
The Swiss-educated son, said to be his 68-year-old father's favorite, emerged in recent months as the rumored front-runner to inherit the mantle of leadership, despite his youth and inexperience.
There were reports that children were singing odes to "the Young Commander," and that his January birthday had been made a national holiday like those of his father and grandfather.
The two Kims stood on a reviewing stand at Pyongyang's central Kim Il Sung Square, named after the country's national founder, where goose-stepping military personnel marched by and military hardware, including tanks, passed below.
The festivities were broadcast on state television, giving the North Korean people one of their first good looks at their future leader.
The elder Kim entered the venue to huge cheers from the crowd. He was accompanied by his son and other top officials including Kim Yong Nam, president of the country's parliament.
The parade was part of celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the Workers' Party of Korea. The party last month held a landmark political convention, its most significant gathering in 30 years, at which Kim Jong Un was promoted to vice chairman of the party's central military commission.
Kim Jong Un, who was not dressed in military uniform as some analysts had expected, saluted the military personnel as they goose-stepped past the reviewing stand. He wore the same dark outfit he has been seen recently since making his public debut late last month.
Earlier, a North Korean flag was raised with military officers in full dress uniform watching as a band played rousing music and the large crowd looked on.
"If the US imperialists and their followers infringe on our sovereignty and dignity even slightly, we will blow up the stronghold of their aggression with a merciless and righteous retaliatory strike by mobilizing all physical means, including self-defensive nuclear deterrent force, and achieve the historic task of unification," Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the North Korean army, said before troops began marching.
The scale of the weekend festivities - less than two weeks after the news that Kim Jong Il's 20-something son would succeed him and grandfather as leader - suggested something special.
Kim Jong Un is the third son of Kim Jong Il but his name never appeared in state media until late last month, and even the exact spelling of his name was unclear.
The Swiss-educated son, said to be his 68-year-old father's favorite, emerged in recent months as the rumored front-runner to inherit the mantle of leadership, despite his youth and inexperience.
There were reports that children were singing odes to "the Young Commander," and that his January birthday had been made a national holiday like those of his father and grandfather.
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