Kim Jong Un (6th L) pays his respects in front of statues of his grandfather Kim Il Sung and his father Kim Jong Il, during a visit to the Ku’msusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang on 24 December 2012. In attendance in the front row are: Kim Won Hong (L), Pak To Chun (2nd L), Kim Yong Chun (3rd L) Choe Ryong Hae (4th L), Choe Chun Sik (5th L), Jang Song Taek (4th R), Hyon Yong Chol (3rd R) Kim Kyok Sik (2nd R) and Hyon Chol Hae. Visibile in the second row are: Kim Kyong Ok (5th L) and Yun Jong Rin (3rd R) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 24 December (Monday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the Ku’msusan Memorial Palace at midnight. KJU’s last reported public appearance was his attendance at a banquet honoring scientists and technicians who participated in the 12 December 2012 launch of U’nha-3 rocket. Kim Jong Un visited Ku’msusan to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the appointment and assumption of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Supreme Command (24 December 1991) by his father, late DPRK leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il).
Joining KJU at Ku’msusan were scientists and technicians and other personnel who participated in the 12 December U’nha-3 launch, along with members of the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Central Military Commission, the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC] and KPA senior commanders. Accompanying KJU were: Gen. Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the KPA General Political Department [bureau]), Jang Song Taek (NDC Vice Chairman and Director of the KWP Administration Department), Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Pak To Chun (KWP Secretary of Machine-Building Industry [military industry]), VMar Kim Yong Chun (NDC Vice Chairman and Director of the KWP Civil Defense Department), VMar Hyon Chol Hae (1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and Director of the KPA General Logistics Department), Gen. Kim Won Hong (Minister of State Security), Gen. Ri Myong Su (Minister of People’s Security), Ju Kyu Chang (Director of the KWP Machine-Building Industry [military industry] Department), Kim Kyong Ok (Senior Deputy [1st Vice] Director of the KWP Organization Guidance Department), Col. Gen. Choe Pu Il (Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff), Col. Gen. Jo Kyong Chol (Chief of the Military Security Command), Lt. Gen. Pak Jong Chon (Adjutant, KPA Supreme Command), Gen. Ri Pyong Chol (Commander of the KPA Air and Anti-Air Command), Col. Gen. Kim Yong Chol (Chief of the Reconnaissance General Bureau) and Gen. Yun Jong Rin (Chief of the Guard Command).
A floral basket from Kim Jong Un sits in front of statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at the Ku’msusan Memorial Palace. KJU visited Ku’msusan, where the preserved remains of his father and grandfather lie in state, on at midnight on 24 December 2012 in commemoration of the 21st anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s assumption of office as KPA Supreme Commander on 24 December 1991. 24 December is also the birthday of Kim Jong Suk, mother of Kim Jong Il (1941-2011) and his sister Kim Kyong Hui (1946–) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Kim Jong Un and those in attendance first visited a hall containing statues of his grandfather, DPRK founder and president Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng), and Kim Jong Il. A floral basket was placed before the KIS and KJI statues. They visited a chamber where Kim Il Sung’s preserved remains lie in state, paid their respects and visited an exhibition of KIS’ personal effects, including a railway carriage and various titles, academic degrees and other honorifics. Kim Jong Un and the other members of the visiting party then visited a chamber where Kim Jong Il’s preserved remains lie in state. They paid their respects and “went round the room where the orders Kim Jong Il received are preserved and the hall where a car, electric car, boat and train used by him are on display.”
According to KCNA, “service personnel and people of the DPRK greeted the 21st anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il’s assumption of the supreme commandership of the KPA at a stirring time when the whole country and nation are greatly pleased and excited with the successful launch of satellite Kwangmyo’ngso’ng 3-2, an event to be specially recorded in the 5000-year-long history of the nation and an auspicious event for all the people.”
Filed under: 2nd Academy of Natural Science, Administration Department, Central Committee, Central Military Committee, Choe Tae Bok, corps command, Events Management Section, Gen. Choe Pu Il, Gen. Kim Kyok Sik, Gen. Kim Won Hong, Gen. Kim Yong Chol, Gen. Ri Myong Su, Gen. Ri Pyong Chol, Gen. Yun Jong Rin, gsd, Guard Command, Hyon Yong Chol, Jang Song-thaek, Kim Family, kim jong suk, Kim Jong Un Visits, Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, Kim Kyong Ok (OGD), KJI Memorial Events 2012, KJI Personal Secretariat, KKH, Korea Committee for Space Technology, Korean People's Army (KPA), Korean People's Air Force, Korean People's Army Air Force, Korean People's Army Supreme Command, Korean People's Internal Security Forces, Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KPA General Political Bureau, KPA General Political Department, KPA General Staff, KPA supernumerary organizations, KPA Supreme Command, kpaf, kpif, Kwangmyongsong-3, Lt. Gen. Pak Jong Chon, Machine Building Industry Department, Mangyo'ngdae Revolutionary School Alumni, military security command [msc], ministry of people's security, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (MPAF), MPAF GPB, National Academy of Defense Sciences, National Defense Commission (NDC), NDC Administration Department, North Korean press, Organization and Guidance Department, Pak To Chun, Political Bureau, Pyongyang Defense Command, Reconnaissance Bureau, Second Economic Committee, Second Economy Commission, Secretariat, Sohae Space Launching Station, VMar Hyon Chol Hae, VMar Kim Yong Chun