Mourning may mute N. Korea birthday celebration
SEOUL–The birthday of North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-Un falls on Sunday, although analysts say any celebrations may be muted in light of the recent death of his father Kim Jong-Il.
The North, one of the world’s most secretive nations, had made no mention as of Friday about any events to mark January 8. The outside world does not even know Jong-Un’s exact age, only that he is his late 20s.
Since Kim Jong-Il died of a heart attack on December 17, state media has launched campaigns to idolize the new leader in a similar way to his late father and his grandfather Kim Il-Sung.
The birthdays of Kim Jong-Il on February 16 and of Kim Il-Sung on April 15 are two of the country’s most important holidays, often marked by fireworks, extra food rations and other events.
It was not known whether the North has designated January 8 as a public holiday.
Jong-Un’s birthday was not marked as a holiday in North Korean calendars for 2012, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. These would have been printed before he took over the leadership.
“There won’t be celebrations such as sports or performances, since Kim Jong-Il’s death was not long ago,” said Kim Seong-Min, head of Seoul-based activist group Free North Korea Radio.
“But there might be some events to praise Kim Jong-Un as the leader of the state.”
Activist Kim believed the North has already declared January 8 as a public holiday and “there will be some sort of events for Jong-Un”.
Chang Yong-Seok, of the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, told AFP the North was practically still in the mourning period for Kim Jong-Il.
Events for the son might stress that the father had picked him as chosen successor, Chang said.
The North’s ruling party on December 30 appointed Jong-Un supreme commander of the 1.2 million-strong military, saying it was acting in accordance with the wishes of the previous leader expressed on October 8.
Chang said Sunday’s event would not be as grand or festive as the holidays in February and April.
“But at least, people will gather in small groups such as villages and workplaces to celebrate Jong-Un’s birthday” by expressing loyalty to him, he said.
