N.Korea celebrates late Kim's birthday in new alpine city, with no
military event
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[February 16, 2022]
By Hyonhee Shin
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has
celebrated the 80th birthday anniversary of leader Kim Jong Un's late
father with a music concert and fireworks in a refurbished holy city,
but no missile launch or military parade, state media KCNA reported on
Wednesday.
Kim attended a gathering of government, military and ruling Workers'
Party officials which took place on Tuesday in front of the statue of
Kim Jong Il in Samjiyon City to commemorate the anniversary, a major
holiday called the Day of the Shining Star in North Korea, KCNA said.
Dubbed the "holy land of revolution" by KCNA, the northern alpine town
of Samjiyon is near the border with China and Mount Paektu, the holy
mountain where Kim's family claims its roots.
However, it was rare that North Korea held such celebrations in the
remote region.
The young leader has sought to transform the city into a massive
economic hub, by building new apartments, hotels, a ski resort and
commercial, cultural and medical facilities.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Feb/16/images/ads/current/LPL_small%201.gif)
The project has been a key initiative to foster a "self-reliant" economy
amid sanctions over nuclear and missile programmes, and Kim has made
multiple visits touting it as a "socialist utopia" and "epitome of
modern civilisation."
Kim laid flowers at the statue during the meeting but KCNA did not
release any of his remarks. Ri Il Hwan, a senior party official, gave a
speech vowing to uphold the late strongman's mantra of self-reliance,
KCNA reported.
"The meeting showed well the firm will and enthusiasm of the
participants to ... build a people's paradise prospering with
self-reliance on this land," KCNA said.
The celebrations also included fireworks and a music performance, but no
military events, as has been the case in the past.
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![](../images/021622pics/news_r33.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commemorated the 80th birthday of
his father Kim Jong Il at a national meeting, state-run broadcaster
KRT reported on Wednesday (February 16).
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/May/02/images/ads/current/guzzardo_lda022609.png)
A U.S. think tank said last week that commercial satellite imagery
showed possible preparations for a military parade which could display
new missiles or other military advances.
KCNA released a photograph of thousands of people wearing a olive green
or grey suit in the gathering, with the Kim Jong Il statue and a snowy
forest in the backdrop.
State television footage also showed crowds of ordinary citizens wearing
masks and watching fireworks, as well as a group of party officials
attending a concert.
North Korea conducted a record seven missile tests in January, and has
warned it may resume testing intercontinental ballistic missiles or
nuclear weapons for the first time since 2017 amid stalled
denuclearisation talks with the United States.
Analysts have said Pyongyang could use key holidays, including the
upcoming 110th birthday anniversary on April 15 of Kim's late
grandfather and national founder, Kim Il Sung, to carry out a major
weapons test.
Those holidays come at a sensitive time as South Korea is set to hold a
presidential election on March 9, with formal campaigns starting this
week.
Outgoing President Moon Jae-in has warned a restart of North Korea's
nuclear weapon or long-range missile tests could "instantly" send the
peninsula back into crisis.
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Minwoo Park; Editing
by Lincoln Feast.)
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