 North Korean leader |
Staff Reporter
On the occasion of the 68th birthday of its leader, North Korea called for absolute faith in and obedience to leader Kim Jong-il Tuesday.
The secretive state's media also wished him good health. More focused on the birthday-related events than those for the Lunar New Year's Day ― the biggest holiday in both Koreas.
"The army and the people must believe that we will unfailingly win and have to follow the general (Kim) to the world's end," the Rodong Sinmun, mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party, said.
It also praised Kim's recent brisk activities and inspections, and encouraged the North Koreans to follow his spirit.
Kim's birthplace is veiled but the North claims that he was born in a secret guerrilla camp on Mt. Paekdu, a sacred peak to North Koreans.
He was named as successor to Kim Il-sung, founder of the communist regime, in 1974 and is referred to as the Dear Leader.
He took power 20 years later and assumed titles of grand secretary of the ruling party and chairman of the National Defense Commission.
Amid rumors that he is recovering from an alleged stroke, which made him collapse in 2008, his youngest son Jong-un is considered the heir-apparent.
The first broadcast on Kim's big day began Sunday with a program wishing him good health.
North Korea's Central Television Station and Radio Pyongyang echoed, "The general's good health is the joy and happiness of our army and the people."
The television station also showed footage of his public appearances and children receiving gifts presented by the leader.
Additionally, it aired a mass rally of the Workers' Party Central Committee in which about 100,000 Pyongyang citizens took part.
He has received congratulatory messages from other countries and various gifts, including rare animals, according to reports.
Meanwhile, a Seoul-based civic group flew about 20,000 fliers condemning the dictator and the human rights situation in North Korea to the North.
"We sent the leaflets in order to protest against North Korea's father-to-son succession and human rights abuses up there on his birthday," said Park Sang-hak, a representative of the Coalition for Free North Korea Movement.
ksy@koreatimes.co.kr
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