North Korea marks one year since Kim Jong-il’s death

North Korea marks one year since the death of Kim Jong-il in a huge ceremony, days after the country’s successful rocket launch.

New leader Kim Jong-un and his wife paid their respects at the memorial hall in Pyongyang which houses the late leader’s body.

Scientists who worked on last week’s long-range rocket launch also attended, state television said.

Kim Jong-il died on December 17, 2011; his death was announced two days later.

Leadership of the communist state – which remains unable to feed its people – passed to his third son Kim Jong-un.

Under his leadership North Korea has conducted two long-range rocket launches – actions condemned by the US and Pyongyang’s neighbors as banned tests of missile technology.

The launch in April failed, but last week’s attempt appears to have been a success, placing a satellite into orbit.

The US, Japan and South Korea are seeking a response in the UN Security Council, which banned North Korea from missile tests after nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.

North Korea held a mass rally on Friday to mark the rocket’s success and another on Sunday to commemorate Kim Jong-il.

On Monday, the country’s top leaders gathered at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the embalmed bodies of both Kim Jong-il and his father, national founder Kim Il-sung, lie.

The ceremony, broadcast live on state television, showed a series of officials bowing before statues of the two late leaders.

On Sunday ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam praised Kim Jong-il’s role in the rocket launch at the giant rally in a Pyongyang sports stadium.

“The successful launch of our Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite is also another victory achieved by our military and people, by faithfully following the teachings of the great leader [Kim Jong-il],” he said.

The UN Security Council last week condemned the launch and said it would continue consultations on an appropriate response.

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