THOUSANDS OF North Korean soldiers took part in a major military parade today to commemorate the late leader Kim Jong Il on what would have been his 70th birthday.
Kilm Jong Il died following a heart attack in December and today’s ceremonies included screenings of footage taken in the days following his death during a national outpouring of grief. The military parade was held outside Kumsusan Palace, where the late leader’s embalmed remains lie in state.
The holiday has been named ‘Day of the Shining Star’ in his honour.
His son and successor Kim Jong Un presided over today’s events in Pyongyang. The AP reports that his ode ‘Footsteps’ was played throughout the city all day today, while North Korean media reports that he received floral tributes to his father from the diplomatic envoys of Nigeria, Egypt, Cambodia, as well as from UNICEF, UNDP and WHO missions in the state.
Earlier this week, statues of Kim Jong Il and his father, the state’s founder, Kim Il Sung riding horses together were unveiled in Pyongyang.
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