North Korea marks Kim Jong Il’s 70th birthday

The North Korean leader, who died in December, would have been 70 on Thursday.

5 Seconds

00:00

Feb. 16, 2012

New North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang after reviewing a parade of thousands of soldiers and commemorating the 70th birthday of the late Kim Jong Il.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

New North Korean soldiers chant at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea, during a parade of thousands of soldiers commemorating the 70th birthday of the country's late leader Kim Jong Il.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

A North Korean woman cries as she and others pay their respects beneath a large portrait of the late leader Kim Jong Il.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

North Koreans walk toward a stand to lay flowers beneath a large portrait of the country's late leader Kim Jong Il to commemorate his death and what would have been his 70th birthday.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

North Korean soldiers salute as civilians bow beneath a large portrait of the country's late leader Kim Jong Il.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

A North Korean soldier sheds tears during a parade marking the 70th birthday of the country's late leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea.

AP / AP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, exchanges smiles with President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong Nam during a military parade to mark the birth anniversary of the North's late leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang.

Kyodo / Reuters

Feb. 16, 2012

Senior North Korean officials, including new leader Kim Jong Un, right, review a parade of thousands of soldiers who vowed to protect Kim Jong Un with their lives as North Korea commemorated the 70th birthday of his late father, Kim Jong Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea.

AP / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

North Korean soldiers march and carry a portrait of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during a military parade at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang commemorating his 70th birthday.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

New North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, far right, applauds with senior military personnel at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang while reviewing a parade of thousands of soldiers and commemorating the 70th birthday of his late father, Kim Jong Il.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

North Koreans soldiers salute while civilians bow in front of a portrait of the country's late leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea.

AP / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

North Koreans bow in front of a portrait of the country's late leader Kim Jong Il as they gather in Kim Il Sung Square, marking the 70th birthday of Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea.

AP / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

Senior North Korean military members approach an area where new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other military and political leaders stand at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang before reviewing a parade of thousands of soldiers and commemorating the 70th birthday of the late Kim Jong Il.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 16, 2012

North Koreans offer flowers to mark the birth anniversary of the North's late leader Kim Jong Il at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang.

Kyodo / Reuters

Feb. 16, 2012

North Koreans offer flowers to bronze statues of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong II, right, and his father the late North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, riding horses side by side, at Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang.

Kyodo / Reuters

Feb. 16, 2012

North Koreans offer flowers to bronze statues of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong II and his father, the late North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, at Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang.

Kyodo / Reuters

Feb. 15, 2012

North Koreans visit the 16th Kimjongilia Festival to mark the birth anniversary of the North's late leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang.

Kyodo / Reuters

Feb. 15, 2012

North Korean children perform in a mass synchronized swimming show in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the birthday of the late leader Kim Jong Il.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 14, 2012

Bronze statues of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, right, and his father, the late North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, riding horses side by side, are unveiled to the public at Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang. Kim Jong Il’s birthday falls on Feb. 16.

Kyodo / Reuters

Feb. 13, 2012

A member of an art troupe of Korean people living in Japan performs on the occasion of the birth anniversary of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang .

KCNA / Reuters

Feb. 15, 2012

North Korean women perform in a mass synchronized swimming show in Pyongyang to celebrate the birthday of the late leader Kim Jong Il, who would have turned 70 on Feb. 16. The women performed, as a grand finale, the song "We Will Defend General Kim Jong Eun at the Risk of Our Lives.”

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 15, 2012

North Korean children perform in a mass synchronized swimming show in Pyongyang. The girls swam to the song "We Are Flower Buds and Butterflies.”

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 14, 2012

North Korea's President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Nam, fourth from left, tours an exhibition of "Kimjongilia" flowers, named after the late leader Kim Jong Il, in Pyongyang.

Kim Kwang Hyon / AP

Feb. 13, 2012

In this Monday, photo, a North Korean man looks at a display of recently issued postage stamps, including those that commemorate the death of Kim Jong Il, at a postage stamp shop in Pyongyang.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Feb. 14, 2012

Commemorative gold and silver coins mark the anniversary of the birth of North Korea's late leader Kim Jong Il. North Korea announced it has awarded medals to 132 people — including the widow of Kim Jong Il — to mark the late leader's 70th birthday this week.

Yonhap / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 13, 2012

Kim Jong Eun's signature is seen on a letter that reads, "We present to dear comrade Kim Jong Eun who is the supreme leader of our party and people" (top) and "From girls who volunteered to go to Taehung from Pyongyang.” Kim Jong Eun, the son of the late leader Kim Jong Il and the current leader of North Korea, sent his autographs to officials and working people of different units and teachers and students of the country on Feb. 9 after reading the letters they presented to him on the Day of the Shining Star, which carried their pledge to implement the behests of leader Kim Jong Il.

KCNA / Reuters

Featured Photo Galleries

Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Volodymyr Litvin (Bottom) looks on as deputies of the Ukrainian opposition fight with deputies of the pro-presidential majority during a session of parliament in Kiev, as opposition parties protest a bill proposed by the ruling party which would make Russian an official state language along with Ukrainian. AFP PHOTO/STRINGERSTR/AFP/GettyImages

Ukrainian parliament fight, SpaceX cargo craft, Mars rover Opportunity and more in the day in photos

Ukrainian parliament fight, SpaceX cargo craft, Mars rover Opportunity and more.

One Direction

The British-Irish boy band performs at the Patriot Center in Fairfax as part of their Up All Night Tour.

Red Panda Bears sleep in the Panda Bear enclosure at the Beijing Zoo on May 22, 2012. The zoo grounds were originally a Ming Dynasty imperial palace and finally opened to the public in 1908. The zoo's history states that during the WWII, most of the zoo's animals died of starvation with only 13 monkeys and one old emu surviving the war. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/GettyImages

Barn owls, pit bulls, red pandas, cheetah cubs and more in animal views

Barn owls, pit bulls, red pandas, cheetah cubs and more.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 24: Singer Paula Abdul speaks at the 12th Annual Lupus LA Orange Ball held at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 24, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Jessie J, Paula Abdul, Ryan Potter, Carlos Knight and other celebrities.

‘Dancing with the Stars’

Season 14 of “Dancing With the Stars.”

May 21, 2012: Members of the Naval Academy freshman class (plebes) lock arms and form a human ladder while climbing the Herndon Monument at the United States Naval Academy on May 21, 2012 in Annapolis, Md. Each year members of the Naval Academy's freshman class (plebes) climb the lard covered 21-foot tall Herndon Monument to replace a plebe dixie cup hat with a midshipman's hat at the top of the obelisk.

Teamwork, discipline help plebes get to the top

At the U.S. Naval Academy, the freshman class attempts to climb the Herndon Monument.

The National Zoo has two new additions: the female cheetah cub, left, and her brother on the right.

The National Zoo’s new cheetah cubs

A dramatic rescue saved these two cheetah babies and their distressed mother giving birth.

JOPLIN, MO - MAY 19: Grace Goebel plays outside of the new Habitat for Humanity home of her parents that was built on the spot of a home that had been destroyed after a tornado hit the neighborhood almost one year ago on May 19, 2012 in Joplin, Missouri. Tuesday will mark the one-year anniversary of the EF-5 tornado that devastated the town. The tornado left behind a path of destruction along with 161 deaths and hundreds of injuries, but one year later there are signs that the town is beginning to recover. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Joplin, Missouri, one year after tornadoes devastate town

Reminders of destruction are everywhere in Joplin, Mo., a year after a killer tornado.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.