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North Korea marks Kim Jong-il death amid purge tensions | North Korea marks Kim Jong-il death amid purge tensions |
(about 5 hours later) | |
North Korea is marking the second anniversary of the death of leader Kim Jong-il, days after the dramatic purge of a top-level official. | North Korea is marking the second anniversary of the death of leader Kim Jong-il, days after the dramatic purge of a top-level official. |
Images from Pyongyang showed ranks of thousands of officials at a ceremony to commemorate Mr Kim. | Images from Pyongyang showed ranks of thousands of officials at a ceremony to commemorate Mr Kim. |
His son, Kim Jong-un, inherited the leadership after his death in 2011. | His son, Kim Jong-un, inherited the leadership after his death in 2011. |
Last week he presided over the execution of Chang Song-thaek, his uncle and a powerful figure seen by outside observers as his mentor. | Last week he presided over the execution of Chang Song-thaek, his uncle and a powerful figure seen by outside observers as his mentor. |
Mr Chang was accused of multiple crimes, state media said, including forming a power base and attempting to overthrow the state. | Mr Chang was accused of multiple crimes, state media said, including forming a power base and attempting to overthrow the state. |
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Kim-moon described his execution as "very dramatic and surprising". | On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Kim-moon described his execution as "very dramatic and surprising". |
He urged regional nations "while they must be vigilantly and carefully watching the development of situation, not to take any premature actions". | He urged regional nations "while they must be vigilantly and carefully watching the development of situation, not to take any premature actions". |
Residents laid flowers at monuments to both Kim Jong-il and his father, Kim Il-sung, North Korea's first leader. | |
Kim Jong-il, who ruled North Korea for almost two decades, died on 17 December 2011. | Kim Jong-il, who ruled North Korea for almost two decades, died on 17 December 2011. |
On Tuesday, his third son and chosen successor Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony to remember his father. | |
The young leader wore a sombre expression, the BBC's Lucy Williamson reports from Seoul. | |
She says the ceremony, in a large hall, was as much about the current leader as the old one. | |
Kim Jong-un sat on the podium flanked by North Korea's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, and the head of the army. | |
"All our people and soldiers have struggled and achieved victory for the past two years by holding our great leader [Kim Jong-il] in high esteem," Kim Yong-nam said in his speech. | "All our people and soldiers have struggled and achieved victory for the past two years by holding our great leader [Kim Jong-il] in high esteem," Kim Yong-nam said in his speech. |
On Monday thousands of North Korean soldiers lined up in front of the state mausoleum to pledge their allegiance to Kim Jong-un. | On Monday thousands of North Korean soldiers lined up in front of the state mausoleum to pledge their allegiance to Kim Jong-un. |
The South Korean president, meanwhile, held a meeting of top security officials, warning of possible "provocations" from North Korea in the wake of the purge of Mr Chang and his aides. | |
His sudden fall from grace and rapid execution have sparked fears of instability inside North Korea. | |
Mr Chang, who was married to the elder Mr Kim's sister, was thought to have facilitated the transfer of power from father to son two years ago. | |
It was also widely believed that he was highly influential behind the scenes. | |
North Korea's secretive 'first family' | North Korea's secretive 'first family' |