The leader of the Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un hosted a massive celebration to congratulate
his nuclear scientists and technicians who steered the country’s sixth
and largest nuclear test a week ago, its official news agency said on
Sunday.
The United States and its allies had been
bracing for another long-range missile launch in time for the 69th
anniversary of DPRK’s founding on Saturday, but no fresh provocations
were spotted while Pyongyang held numerous events to mark the holiday.
Throughout
last week, South Korean officials had warned that the DPRK could launch
another intercontinental ballistic missile in defiance of UN sanctions
and amid an escalating standoff with the United States.
DPRK
leader Kim Jong Un claps during a celebration for nuclear scientists
and engineers who contributed to a hydrogen bomb test, in this undated
photo released by DPRK's KCNA in Pyongyang on September 10, 2017. /Photo
KCNA via Reuters
Washington told the UN
Security Council on Friday to call a meeting on Monday to vote on a
draft resolution establishing additional sanctions on the DPRK for its
missile and nuclear program.
KCNA said Kim threw a
banquet to laud the nuclear scientists and other top military and party
officials who contributed to the nuclear bomb test last Sunday, topped
with an art performance and a photo session with the leader himself.
KCNA did not specify when the banquet had been held, but analysts said it was likely on Saturday.
Photos
released on Sunday by KCNA showed the young leader breaking into a
broad smile at the People’s Theater with two prominent scientists: Ri
Hong Sop, head of DPRK’s Nuclear Weapons Institute, and Hong Sung Mu,
deputy director of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s munitions
industry department..
DPRK
leader Kim Jong Un reacts during a celebration for nuclear scientists
and engineers who contributed to a hydrogen bomb test, in this undated
photo released by DPRK's KCNA in Pyongyang on September 10, 2017. /Photo
KCNA via Reuters
Ri and Hong have played
vital roles in the DPRK’s nuclear program, appearing at close distance
to Kim during field inspections and weapons tests, including the latest
nuclear test. Ri is a former director of Yongbyon Nuclear Research
Center, the DPRK’s main nuclear facility north of Pyongyang, where Hong
also worked as a chief engineer.
The DPRK had said
the latest test was an advanced hydrogen bomb. There was no independent
confirmation but some Western experts said there was enough strong
evidence to suggest that the country has either developed a hydrogen
bomb or was getting very close.
KCNA said on Sunday
the scientists and technicians “brought the great auspicious event of
the national history, an extra-large event through the perfect success
in the test of H-bomb”.
DPRK
leader Kim Jong Un reacts during a celebration for nuclear scientists
and engineers who contributed to a hydrogen bomb test, in this undated
photo released by DPRK's KCNA in Pyongyang on September 10, 2017. /Photo
KCNA via Reuters
Kim praised the developers
in his own remarks as “taking the lead” in attaining the “final goal of
completing the state nuclear force” in line with his parallel pursuit
of nuclear and economic development.
“The recent test
of the H-bomb is the great victory won by the Korean people at the cost
of their blood while tightening their belts in the arduous period,” Kim
was quoted as saying.
Ri and Hong’s roles have also
been noted overseas, prompting the United Nations, the United States or
South Korea to blacklist them.
Aside from the elite,
rank-and-file DPRK people also commemorated the anniversary on Saturday
by visiting the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, which houses the embalmed
bodies of founding father Kim Il Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong
Il.
KCNA said service personnel and civilians,
including children, laid floral baskets and bouquets at the statues of
the deceased leaders across the country while enjoying art performances
and dancing partiesSource: cgtn.com