Asia-Pacific

Kim Jong-il watches military drill with Kim Jong-un

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-06 19:30

PYONGYANG - Kim Jong-il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), recently watched a coordinated drill of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the company of his son, Kim Jong-un, the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported Wednesday.

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The drill was held to mark the 65th birthday of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK), the report said.

It is the first time that the DPRK media had covered the public appearance of the top leader accompanied by Kim Jong-un, who is now vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK.

Kim Jong-un was recently bestowed the military rank of general and elected to the 19-member Central Military Commission of the WPK.

The supreme leader was also accompanied by Choe Yong Rim, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and premier of the cabinet, and Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the KPA and member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee.

The newspaper said Kim Jong-il highly appreciated the training of the soldiers, expressing great satisfaction over their preparation to beat back any surprise enemy invasion and defend the homeland.