Late NK leader’s body to lie in state permanently

By Kim Young-jin

The body of late North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il will lie permanently in state in Pyongyang and statues of him will be erected nationwide as part of efforts to idolize him, the North’s state media said.

The body "will be laid in state at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace," where the body of his father, country founder Kim Il-sung is already preserved, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

In addition, his Feb. 16 birthday will be dubbed the "Day of the Shining Star," it said. The date is already one of the biggest holidays in the North.

Observers said the efforts, which also include building statues and towers across the impoverished country in his name, are an apparent attempt to further idolize the late ruler after his death last month and justify the power succession to his youngest son, Kim Jong-un.

Pyongyang has moved quickly to anoint the junior Kim as its new leader, making him supreme commander of the army. The family dynasty has maintained its grip on power in large part by building a massive personality cult around its leaders.

Meanwhile, state media said Wednesday that Kim Jong-un inspected construction sites in Pyongyang in his third public outing, an apparent move to build confidence in his regime’s ability to revive a moribund economy.

Concerns linger that Kim, thought to be no older than 30, could face challenges to his power given his age and inexperience.