North Korea stresses allegiance to leader on ruling-party anniversary

North Korea on Thursday emphasized its allegiance to its leader Kim Jong-un as the country celebrated the 68th anniversary of the ruling party's founding. The Rodong Sinmun devoted its entire front page to lauding the achievements of the country's founder Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il, and pointed out that the reason for the Workers' Party of Korea's (WPK) existence is to uphold the revolutionary principles and legacies set by the two late leaders. The two are the grandfather and father of the incumbent leader who took power in late 2011. Kim Il-sung founded the party in 1945, right after Korea was liberated from 36 years of Japanese colonial rule. It said this year's WPK anniversary marks an opportunity to highlight Kim Jong-un's leadership capabilities and wisdom, and for the people to rally around him and show its support for all the world to see. The daily added that millions of party members, soldiers and ordinary citizens are committed to acting as the leader's shield. The paper also maintained that the party must be committed to making full use of its organization to push forward economic growth in the agricultural and light industrial sectors, and to uphold the policy of respecting science and technology. Other media outlets such as the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and Chosun Central TV all focused on Kim's visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, a mausoleum for the two late leaders, and delivery of gifts and food to schools and day care centers around the country. The South's Ministry of Unification, meanwhile, said the North seems to be celebrating the anniversary in a calm manner. "There seems to be no special event planned for this year's anniversary, which is a public holiday in the North," an official told reporters. He, meanwhile, added that the reappearance of the first lady Ri Sol-ju at a public event on Wednesday, 24 days after her last appearance, effectively dispelled speculation that something may have happened to her. There had been rumors that Ri may have been involved in a scandal before her marriage and that the revelation may have caused her to fall out of favor.