North Korea has celebrated the 80th birthday anniversary of leader Kim Jong Un's late father with a music concert and gun salutes in a refurbished holy city, but no missile launch or military parade, state media KCNA reported Wednesday.
Kim attended a gathering of government, military and ruling Workers' Party officials that took place Tuesday in front of the statue of Kim Jong Il in Samjiyon City to commemorate the anniversary, a major holiday called the Day of the Shining Star in North Korea, KCNA said.
Dubbed the "holy land of revolution" by KCNA, the northern alpine town of Samjiyon is near the border with China and Mount Paektu, the holy mountain where Kim's family claims its roots.