North Koreans mark former leader Kim Jong-il's birthday
- 10 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
North Koreans visited the statues of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-il on Sunday (February 16) laying flowers in front of them to mark the birthday of Kim Jong-il.
In video footage provided to Reuters by North Korea state news agency, KCNA, people placed baskets and bouquets of flowers in front of the statues before bowing and leaving.
North Koreans are told that Kim Jong-il was born on February 16, 1942. February 16 is called the "Day of the Shining Star" and celebrated as a national holiday in North Korea.
However, Kim's official biography is not reliable and many Western scholars believe he was born a year earlier.
Kim Jong-il died of an apparent heart attack in December 2011 after ruling North Korea for 17 years.
His youngest son Kim Jong Un was named North Korea's "Great Successor" after his father's death.
North Koreans visited the statues of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-il on Sunday (February 16) laying flowers in front of them to mark the birthday of Kim Jong-il.
In video footage provided to Reuters by North Korea state news agency, KCNA, people placed baskets and bouquets of flowers in front of the statues before bowing and leaving.
North Koreans are told that Kim Jong-il was born on February 16, 1942. February 16 is called the "Day of the Shining Star" and celebrated as a national holiday in North Korea.
However, Kim's official biography is not reliable and many Western scholars believe he was born a year earlier.
Kim Jong-il died of an apparent heart attack in December 2011 after ruling North Korea for 17 years.
His youngest son Kim Jong Un was named North Korea's "Great Successor" after his father's death.