North Korea marks Kim Jong-il death

Thousands of North Koreans are marking the second death anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il, days after the controversial execution of a high-ranking official.

On Tuesday, a major ceremony was held in the capital, Pyongyang, with thousands of military, party, and government officials taking part.

“It has been two years since the great leader Kim Jong-il, admired by all our people and soldiers… left us so suddenly,” North Korea’s ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam said during the ceremony.

“All our people and soldiers have struggled and achieved victory for the past two years by holding our great leader in high esteem.”

The former leader’s son and chosen successor Kim Jong-un also attended the ceremony.

Thousands of soldiers lined up outside the Kumsusan Palace, where the embalmed bodies of Kim Jong-il and his father, Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea are held.

North Koreans also gathered in the capital to show their loyalty to the former leader’s son, in the wake of political turmoil in the country.

Kim Jong-il died on December 17, 2011. He had assumed power after the death of his father in 1994.

The ceremony comes nearly a week after the leader’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek, was executed after being accused of committing crimes and “attempting to overthrow the state.” He was considered to be the country’s second most powerful man.