SALON

Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011 1:50 PM UTC

Kim Jong Il kicks off week-long birthday party

The North Korean leader's birthday festivities include synchronized swimming, standing in line, & looking at things

By

Topics: North Korea,

Kim Jong Il kicks off week-long birthday partyIn this photo released by Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service in Tokyo Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, center right, looks at the gifts brought by visiting Chinese Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu, fourth left, in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011. At right is Kim's son Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service) JAPAN OUT (Credit: AP)

Kim Jong Il celebrated his 69th birthday yesterday in less than lavish style. (Records show that it was actually the North Korean president’s 70th birthday, but the official announcement said 69.) With lanterns hung on the streets of Pyongyang, the nation prepared to receive their annual gift from their leader. This year, Kim Jong Il had promised every citizen a day’s worth of food but failed to deliver. According to the AP:

In the past, Kim has marked his birthday by handing out luxury items and other goods meant to cement loyalty. This year, however, there were signs the country was skimping on the usual largesse and saving up for next year’s 100th anniversary of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung’s birth. The North is eager to make good on its promise to build a “powerful, prosperous” nation by 2012.

Instead, there was synchronized swimming and a dance party that looks, frankly, surreal. Other items on the weeklong schedule of fun include ice-skating, music shows, and exhibitions of Kimjongilia, a flower named after the leader.

For more on North Korea’s eccentric leader, check out this blog devoted to Kim Jong Il looking at things.

Adam Clark Estes

Adam Clark Estes blogs the news for Salon. Email him at ace@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @adamclarkestes More Adam Clark Estes.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 5 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

vote
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty To Forging Newt Gingrich Primary Signatures: Adam Ward pleaded guilty to 36 counts of voter fraud and perjury
85 points86 points | 7 comments
vote
Study: Young people are more liberal than they think they are.
64 points65 points | 22 comments
vote
Here Come the Edward Snowden Truthers
55 points56 points | 21 comments
vote
The internal war between House Oversight Committee chair Darrell Issa and ranking Democrat Elijah Cummings blew up again Tuesday, when Cummings released the full transcript of a five-hour interview with the conservative Republican IRS screening manager.
43 points44 points | 6 comments
vote
How cash secretly rules surveillance policy: Today's congressional hearing was a joke. The reason: Firms like Booz Allen bankroll and own Congress. Here's how
42 points43 points | 6 comments

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations