10 Years Of Kim Jong-un Leading WPK, Party Presidium Praises North Korea's Nuclear Weapon Development

National gathering marking the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-un leading the ruling WPK party. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea has praised Kim Jong-Un's leadership in developing nuclear weapons, praised his political achievements, and unveiled a new portrait and exhibition to celebrate 10 years of his leadership in the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

Kim was thought to have taken power when he was appointed commander-in-chief of the military after his father, Kim Jong Il, died in December 2011.

Monday marked ten years since the young Kim was elected as the top party and country leader. The Kim family has ruled the one-party state throughout its history.

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, one of the most senior officials under Kim, praised the North Korean leader as "a gifted thinker and theorist, an outstanding statesman and a great commander." peerless", Reuters reported April 11.

The event kicks off a week of commemorations that will also include the 110th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and Kim Jong Un's grandfather, on Friday.

Commercial satellite imagery has shown North Korean troops rehearsing for a military parade that could be held this week. Analysts also said there were signs that North Korea could display its inter-ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Last month, North Korea set off alarm bells in Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington by conducting a full ICBM test for the first time since 2017, ending a self-imposed moratorium on such tests.

New construction has been spotted at North Korea's nuclear test site, raising fears it could soon detonate a weapon for the first time since 2017. Last week North Korea said it opposed the war, but would not hesitate to use its nuclear weapons if attacked by South Korea.

Choe called Kim "an unparalleled patriot and a great defender of peace", for making North Korea "a full military force equipped with all the physical means of strong self-defense."

Under Kim, North Korea carried out four of its six nuclear tests, developing a massive intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that analysts believe could strike the entire United States.

Despite facing unprecedented difficulties, Kim has opened a new era for North Korea as a strong socialist nation that is prosperous, developing with independence, Choe said.

Leader Kim has vowed to improve the lives of residents and try to boost North Korea's economy but suffered a major contraction in recent years as it was hit by international sanctions, COVID-19 lockdown measures, and bad weather. UN agencies have warned of a possible humanitarian crisis.

"Ten years is a great time for Kim to try and raise his personality cult even higher", Colin Zwirko, analytical correspondent with NK News, which monitors North Korea, said on Twitter.