North Korea on Monday celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Kim Jong-un being elected as the country’s Supreme Leader, wherein members of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) praised Kim’s leadership in developing nuclear weapons and highlighted his political achievements.
In a speech at a national meeting on Sunday, Choe Ryong Hae, a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and one of the senior-most officials in Pyongyang, called Kim “a gifted thinker and theoretician, outstanding statesman and peerlessly great commander.” Choe further hailed Kim as “a peerless patriot and a great defender of peace” for making North Korea “a full-fledged military power equipped with all-powerful physical means of self-defence.”
In addition, the country’s state media unveiled a rare new official portrait of the leader on Sunday and reported that a museum in Pyongyang had opened a new exhibition to showcase the achievements of his “immortal leadership.” The events are part of a week-long commemoration that will also include the 110-year birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s founding father and Kim Jong Un’s grandfather, on Friday.
North Korea celebrates Kim Jong Un’s 10-year rule: North Korea praised Kim Jong Un's leadership in developing nuclear weapons, touted his political achievements, and unveiled new portraits and exhibitions to celebrate his 10 years in charge of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. pic.twitter.com/BawZjH8PUX
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The series of events has sparked speculation that the secretive country will mark the historic milestone with a military show. Commercial satellite imagery has shown North Korean troops practising for a parade that could be held later this week. Analysts also presume that Pyongyang will display its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at an event that could be held on Friday.
The 37-year-old dictator came to power in 2011 after his father and predecessor, Kim Il-Jong, suffered a sudden heart attack. Although many experts at the time speculated that the young and inexperienced Kim, known as the “Great Successor,” would be overthrown in a military coup or a takeover by North Korean elites, he has since firmly cemented his position as the country’s Supreme Leader and ushered in a new era called “Kim Jong-unism.” The Kim family has ruled the one-party regime for its entire history.
Under Kim’s rule, the country has conducted at least six nuclear tests and developed superior ICBM capabilities that analysts believe may be capable of reaching the United States. In fact, earlier this month, Pyongyang made its most upfront verbal provocation yet when Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong-un’s sister, warned South Korea that if it chooses military confrontation or launches a preemptive strike, Pyongyang will be forced to respond with a nuclear attack. Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has conducted 12 missile tests, including of a hypersonic missile. It carried out seven tests in January alone.
However, despite these radical military advancements, Kim’s relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons has worn out his economy. North Korea is now poorer and further isolated than before Kim took power.