Pyongyang discreetly celebrates ex-leader s birth anniversary

Pyongyang Feb 16 (IANS) North Korea on Friday discreetly commemorated the 76th birth anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il.

As per tradition the incumbent leader Kim Jong-un paid a visit to the Kumsusan Sun Palace here at midnight and solemnly placed a wreath in front of the embalmed bodies of his father and grandfather Kim Il-sung founder of North Korea according to the state agency KCNA.

Kim Jong-un was accompanied by high-ranking Workers Party officials but not military officers Efe news quoted KCNA as saying.

The South Korean Unification Ministry pointed out that this year the North has opted for a modest celebration of this important event in contrast with the previous year.

In 2017 the so-called "Kwangmyongsongjol" (the Day of the Shining Star was celebrated with a flower festival "Kimjongilia" in Pyongyang featuring an enormous mass dance and a fireworks display.

This year the commemoration took place in an atmosphere of relative relaxation between Seoul and Pyongyang as a result of the North s participation in the ongoing PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games after agreements were reached between the two neighbouring countries in January.

--IANS
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