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N.K. leader attends orchestra concert held in memory of late leader

Feb. 18, 2012 - 11:33 By

SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a music concert held in commemoration of the birthday of his late father and former leader Kim Jong-il, state media said Saturday.

North Korea held a military parade and other events this week to mark the 70th birthday on Feb. 16 of the late Kim. The former leader died of a heart attack in December and his youngest son took over as his successor.

The new leader attended an orchestra concert, apparently held on Friday, along with top members of the ruling elite, according to Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency.

"Kim Jong-un waved to the enthusiastically cheering audience.

The audience observed a moment's silence in memory of Kim Jong-il in the humblest reverence," KCNA said.

"Its performers represented the unbounded yearning and reverence of the service personnel and the people for Kim Jong-il who laid an eternal foundation for the prosperity of the country and its people's happiness, undergoing for decades all sorts of sufferings which nobody else in this world has ever experienced,"it said.

Also Friday, the North's ruling Workers' Party and the National Defense Commission hosted a reception to mark the birthday.

Participants included the ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, Premier Choe Yong-rim and Ri Yong-ho, chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA), KCNA said.