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North Korea celebrated the 80th anniversary of the birth of its late leader Kim Jong Il without a missile launch or military parade, but with a concert and fireworks in the city of Samjiang, the country's state news agency KCNA reported.
His son, current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, celebrated Shining Star Day, as his father's birthday is called, in this town located near Mount Paektu, where, according to official history, Kim Jong-il was born on February 16, 1942.
Images broadcast by North Korean media showed a crowd of people - including Workers' Party cadres - gathered in front of Kim Jong Il's statue "to celebrate the great holiday of the nation's good omen," KCNA reported.
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The crowd applauded enthusiastically when they saw Kim Jong Un, who attended the event in Samzhyon County, "the holy land of the revolution," the same source added. It is rare to hold such events in such a remote area.
The North Korean leader has sought to transform the city into a major economic hub, with his government funding projects to build new homes, hotels and a ski resort, as well as cultural and medical facilities.
The transformation of Samzhyon is part of Kim Jong-un's plans to promote an "autonomous" economy as international sanctions have been imposed on North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The North Korean leader himself has repeatedly visited the city, which he has called a "socialist utopia" and the "epitome of modern civilization."
Kim laid a wreath in front of a statue of his father, but KCNA did not carry any of his remarks.
Every year North Korea celebrates various anniversaries linked to the country's official history and its first two leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's grandfather and father.
These celebrations are an opportunity for large flower shows, dance shows and praise in the press, with the aim, according to experts, of boosting public loyalty to the regime.
The international community was closely watching today's festive day because of tensions on the Korean peninsula, and observers were expecting a large military parade for the regime to unveil its new weapons.
Pyongyang conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests in January, including launching its most powerful missile since 2017.
Analysts believe North Korea may move to test a major weapon on April 15, the 110th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth.
Source: Cyprus Times
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
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