DPRK marks anniversary of late leader's death

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a national ceremony on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the death of former leader Kim Jong-il.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea pays a silent tribute during a mass memorial rally for their former leader Kim Jong-il, as the country prepares to mark a year since his death, in Pyongyang, in this picture released by Kyodo December 16, 2012. Kim Jong-un attended the rally on Sunday, one day ahead of the first anniversary of his father's death. [Photo/Agencies]

Kim's successor, his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, attended the rally along with other top officials of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, government and army.

All the participants observed a silence in memory of the senior Kim, who died of a heart attack on December 17, 2011.

Kim Yong-nam, chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, lauded the accomplishments of the late leader in his memorial address.

He said the senior Kim, who developed the Songun (military-first) political theory and put forward the theory of building a thriving socialist nation, made the DPRK a world-level military power and legitimate nuclear-weapon state.

Choe Ryong-hae, director of the Korean People's Army General Political Bureau, said in his speech that the Korean armed forces will fully discharge their mission and role as the army of the leader, and the army of the party.

Jon Yong-nam, chairman of the Kim Il-sung Socialist Youth League Central Committee, pledged to follow the younger Kim to carry forward the revolutionary cause of Juche (self-reliance) and Songun.

The ceremony was held while the country is in jubilation over a successful satellite launch on Wednesday.