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North Korea celebrated the birthday of late ruler Kim Jong-il yesterday with mass fireworks, high-ranking military promotions and a rally to pledge loyalty to his son, current leader Kim Jong-un.
To mark the February 16 date, Kim Jong-un promoted dozens of top military officers on Sunday and paid a midnight visit to the mausoleum housing his father's embalmed body, the North's official KCNA news agency said.
Accompanied by a large group of senior party and military officials, Kim bowed deeply and in "the humblest reverence" as he paid homage to his parent at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.
Pyongyang also staged massive fireworks on Sunday night to celebrate what is named the "Day of the Shining Star".
 
The anniversaries of the births and deaths of Kim Jong-il and his father, the country's founding leader Kim Il-sung, are major holidays in North Korea.
In a statement to coincide with yesterday's anniversary, US-based Human Rights Watch said Kim Jong-il, who would have been 73, should be remembered for presiding over one of the world's "most brutal and repressive" governments.
Watch: North Korea celebrates Kim Jong-il's birthday 

During his 17-year rule, "Kim presided over the country's worst famine and oversaw systematic crimes against humanity against his own people", HRW said.
Kim died in December 2011 and was succeeded by his son.
Thousands of senior military and party officials gathered in a large auditorium in Pyongyang on Sunday to vow loyalty to the Kim dynasty.

During the meeting aired on state TV, Choe Ryong-Hae, one of Kim's closest aides and general secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, urged officials to protect the young leader with their lives.
In a keynote speech Choe praised Kim Jong-Il for promoting nuclear-armed North Korea "to the echelon of the world's top military powerhouse".
"All party members and people should continue to follow the steps of the great general [Kim Jong-il] ... under the guidance of comrade Kim Jong-un," he said.
The audience sat under a massive banner reading "The great leader Kim Jong-il is always with us."
The Kim dynasty has ruled the isolated state for nearly seven decades with an iron fist and pervasive personality cult.

Kim Jong-un, in his early 30s, is reputed to enjoy a luxury lifestyle of yachts, parties and gourmet food - in a stark contrast to the poverty prevalent among his 25 million people.
Over the weekend, Kim flew over Pyongyang in his private jet for an aerial inspection of a residential complex being built for the country's top scientists.
KCNA images showed Kim staring out over the capital from the sleekly opulent interior of the plane - a recently purchased Antonov An-148.
Unlike his father, who hated flying and would only travel overseas by train, Kim seems to have a passion for air travel.
Pyongyang has undergone a construction boom under Kim Jong-un, and KCNA quoted him speaking of a "facelift" for the capital that would transform it into a "world-class city to be envied by the world".


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North Korea

Kim Jong-un takes new private jet for a spin ahead of late father's birthday celebrations

Kim Jong-un bows deeply to the embalmed corpse of his father at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on Sunday. Photo: EPA

Kim Jong-un holds a meeting with his officials on the newly purchased private jet. Photo: Xinhua

Kim Jong-un takes in the view aboard his private plane. Photo: AFP

Kim flew over the capital, Pyongyang, in the recently purchased Antonov An-148 for an aerial inspection of scientists' residential quarters. Photo: AFP

North Korean officials vow loyalty to current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the annual celebrations to mark the birthday of late leader Kim Jong-il. Photo: AFP

Synchronised swimmers perform in Pyongyang to commemorate the 73rd birthday of late leader Kim Jong-il. Photo: Kyodo

North Korea's supreme leader flies over Pyongyang in his new Antonov An-148 private jet. Photo: AFP

News

Asia

Dynasty celebrated as current leader Kim Jong-un pays tribute to his father, who died in 2011


North Korea celebrated the birthday of late ruler Kim Jong-il with mass fireworks, high-ranking military promotions and a rally to pledge loyalty to his son, current leader Kim Jong-un.


Kim Jong-un