North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Kim Jong Un Visits Ku’msusan on KJI Birth Anniversary

Kim Jong Un visits the Ku'msusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on February 16, 2015.  Also in attendance (L-R) are Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Chief of the KPA General Staff), VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department) and Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Minister of the People's Armed Forces).

Kim Jong Un visits the Ku’msusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on February 16, 2015. Also in attendance (L-R) are Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Chief of the KPA General Staff), VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department) and Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his visit to the construction of Mirae Scientists Street

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n), accompanied by senior officials of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] and the DPRK’s national security community, visited Ku’msusan Memorial Palace of the Sun at midnight KST on February 16 (Monday) to commemorate the birth anniversary of his father, late DPRK leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il).  Among those accompanying him were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department), Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Gen. Kim Won Hong (Minister of State Security), Col. Gen. So Hong Chan (1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Lt. Gen. Kim Chun Sam (Director of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau and 1st Vice Chief of the General Staff), Lt. Gen. Pak Yong Sik (Deputy Director of the KPA General Political Department) and Lt. Gen. Ryom Chol Song (Deputy Director of the KPA General Political Department).

The visit began in Ku’msusan’s statue hall where the head of the KPA honor guard saluted the statues of KJI and DPRK President and founder Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng).  Floral baskets from Jong Un and from the KPA were placed in front of the statues.  Kim Jong Un “together with other visitors, paid high tribute to the statues,” according to KCNA.  Jong Un proceeded to a chamber containing KJI’s preserved remains where he “paid homage to Kim Jong Il in the humblest reverence for him.”  Afterward, Jong Un and the senior KPA officials visited a room containing various titles and diplomas that KJI accumulated, a remembrance hall and rooms containing KJI’s electric cart, his personal boat and his personal (and customized) Mercedes Benz S-Class sedan.

A KPA honor guard with floral baskets from Kim Jong Un (right) and the KPA (left) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

A KPA honor guard with floral baskets from Kim Jong Un (right) and the KPA (left) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un bows whilst senior Korean People's Army officials salute in front of statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at Ku'msusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang at midnight on February 16, 2015 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un bows whilst senior Korean People’s Army officials salute in front of statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at Ku’msusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang at midnight on February 16, 2015 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

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