North Korea renewed its allegiance to its new leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday, drawing on the last words of his late father and former leader Kim Jong-il and holding a mass rally in support of the heir.
Recent reports in the communist state's official media have introduced what are said to be the last words of Kim Jong-il, who apparently made clear his intention to bequeath power to his third and youngest son, Jong-un.
The late leader, aged 69, died of heart failure on Dec. 17, according to North Korean media. His funeral was held in Pyongyang last week, marking the official launch of the new leadership under Kim Jong-un, who is believed to be in his late 20s.
An article posted Monday on the North Korean Web site Uriminzokkiri said Kim Jong-il "noted that the Juche revolution will continue brightly under our general (Kim Jong-un)," referring to the North's primary ideology of self-reliance.
The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Saturday that Kim Jong-un has been appointed the supreme commander of the country's 1.1-million-strong military, in line with the "Oct. 8 dying injunctions" of his father. The report did not say where or in what context Kim Jong-il spoke on Oct. 8.
Senior officials in the North's military and ruling Workers' Party were also reported as quoting the late leader during a memorial service last Thursday, saying Kim Jong-il had "pointed out" that all members of the party and military should be faithful to Kim Jong-un and support his leadership.
In a related move, party officials and the North Korean people held a mass rally in South Hamgyong Province, vowing to carry out the tasks outlined in a joint New Year's editorial written by the North's three major newspapers, the KCNA said Monday.
At the rally, a letter was read to encourage workers across the nation to put their support behind Kim Jong-un, who is leading the "sacred revolutionary cause" pursued by both his father and grandfather Kim Il-sung, North Korea's founder, it said.
"Kim Jong-un is the supreme leader of the Party, army and people of the DPRK as he has inherited the idea, leadership ability, personality, virtues, courage and grits of Kim Jong-il," the KCNA said in an English-language dispatch.
"As we have the dear respected Kim Jong-un at the top of the Korean revolution, the victory in the drive for a great surge is certain and we will surely build a thriving socialist nation, the lifelong wishes of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, on this land." (Yonhap)