North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un made a rare visit to his father Kim Jong Il’s tomb, pledging to continue the “sacred struggle” for the country’s security and prosperity.
As reported by NBC, Kim paid his respects at the family mausoleum to mark the birthday of his late father, which is observed on February 16.
The occasion is widely celebrated in North Korea as a major holiday, referred to as the Day of the Shining Star.
This visit marked the first time in four years that Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, where the preserved bodies of his father and grandfather are kept, for the anniversary.
41-year-old Kim was accompanied by his sister Kim Yo Jong and a senior ruling Workers’ Party official, among other aides.
An official statement noted, “He expressed his solemn will to devote himself to the sacred struggle for the eternal prosperity of the country, the security of the people, and the promotion of their well-being.”
The Kim dynasty has ruled North Korea since its founding in 1948 after World War II, spanning three generations.
