Seoul, July 26 (EFE).- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a military cemetery to pay tribute to soldiers killed during the Korean War (1950-1953) on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the end of the conflict, state media reported Wednesday.
Kim visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery, located on the outskirts of Pyongyang, on Tuesday, accompanied by North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam, other military officials and his sister Kim Yo-jong, state news agency KCNA reported.
During his visit, Kim described the “miracle of July 27” as “a great victory of significance in the human history as they inflicted eternally indelible disgrace and defeat on the US imperialism, the chieftain of aggression, and prevented a new world war,” KCNA said.
Tuesday’s visit marked Kim’s first public appearance in 37 days, after he attended a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s central committee on June 19.
In the photos shared by KCNA, Kim can be seen bowing solemnly and laying a wreath at the cemetery before also visiting another one for Chinese soldiers killed in the war.
The Great Fatherland Liberation War is the official name given by North Korea to the Korean War, which ended on July 27, 1953 without the signing of a ceasefire.
North Korea usually celebrates the anniversary with a national holiday called “Victory Day” as the regime’s narrative is that victory was eventually achieved by the North because it forced the US, South Korea and the rest of allied forces to call for an armistice. EFE
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