Nordkoreanerne fejrer torsdag 70 års fødselsdag for den nyligt afdøde leder Kim Jong-il med en ceremoni på pladsen udenfor Kumsusan Memorial Palace i Pyongyang.
Det skriver BBC online torsdag.
The army pledged loyalty to Mr Kim’s son and successor, footage on state television showed. Activities venerating the late leader, who died of a heart attack in December 2011, were stepped up in recent weeks.
The palace, where his body lies in state, was also renamed the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in honour of both Mr Kim and his father, the country’s founding leader, Kim Il-sung.
Despite the frigid weather, people gathered early on Thursday morning at the main Kim Il-sung Plaza. They left red “kimjongilia” begonias and other flowers at his portrait.
North Korea said on Wednesday it has awarded Kim Jong-il the highest title of Generalissimo, the same rank as that held by his father, the country’s founding leader. A 6-metre bronze statue of him was unveiled on Tuesday depicting him riding a horse next to his late father, Kim Il-sung, also on horseback.
A series of commemorative items and tributes have been released since his death. These include a giant slogan carved into a mountainside, postage stamps, medals and gold and silver coins bearing his image.
Emotional tributes were delivered by an announcer on state television on Thursday, which also aired footage portraying the late leader as caring for the people, said an AFP report.
