North Koreans took part in the 80th birthday celebration of their late leader Kim Jong-il on Wednesday which was highlighted with a concert, fireworks, and an outdoor ceremony near the China border. The country’s state media reports showed a snowy celebration with crowds cheering on its current leader Kim Jong-un, who took on the leadership after his father died in 2011.
The younger Kim graced the event and was attended by government, military, and ruling Worker’s Party officials. The gathering took place in front of his father’s statue in Samjiyon City. The yearly tradition is a major national holiday called the Day of the Shining Star, meant to be a show of the nation’s push for greater internal unity in spite of the grappling hardships brought on by the pandemic and paired with various UN sanctions.
The state TV network featured Kim Jong-un garbed in a dark winter coat as he waved to his people ardently cheering him on as they clapped their hands to show support during the eve of his father’s birthday. Traditionally, North Korean citizens make their way up to Pyongyang’s Masu Hill to lay bouquets of flowers at the foot of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-Il’s statues.
Prosperity with self-reliance was the message being strewn across similar ceremonies that were held across regions in North Korea. Kim laid flowers at the foot of his father’s statue as celebrations proceeded without the usual military display. This was contrary to US speculations last week based on satellite imagery that had them thinking that the birthday preparations would possibly include a military parade boasting of North Korea’s new missiles and other military technology advances it has under its wing.
According to Reuters, Kim has sought to transform the remote alpine town of Samjiyon into a massive economic hub. It is located near the border of China and Mount Paektu also called the Holy Mountain where Kim's family has claimed its roots. The young dictator had spoken of plans to build new hotels, a ski resort, commercial and cultural centers, new apartments as well as medical facilities. The said project is the young leader’s initiative to adopt a “self-reliant” economy to sustain itself amid the sanctions imposed on the country over issues of its nuclear and missile programs.
Political analysts have been busy speculating on Pyongyang’s upcoming key holidays such as the 110th birthday anniversary of the tyrant’s late grandfather Kim Il Sung, which they believe could be used to carry out weapons testing. Just last month, the country conducted a succession of missile tests but has paused all testing activity before the start of the Winter Olympics in China.
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