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North Korea holds rally to mark end of party congress | North Korea holds rally to mark end of party congress |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have joined a rally marking the end of the Workers' Party Congress, the first in 36 years. | Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have joined a rally marking the end of the Workers' Party Congress, the first in 36 years. |
The congress cemented the position of leader Kim Jong-un, elevating him to the role of party chairman. | The congress cemented the position of leader Kim Jong-un, elevating him to the role of party chairman. |
On Tuesday, state media announced that Mr Kim' sister, Kim Yo-jong, had been elected to the ruling committee. | On Tuesday, state media announced that Mr Kim' sister, Kim Yo-jong, had been elected to the ruling committee. |
The Congress also endorsed the national policy of building nuclear capability alongside economic development. | The Congress also endorsed the national policy of building nuclear capability alongside economic development. |
On Monday, three BBC journalists were expelled from the country for reporting which had angered the authorities. | On Monday, three BBC journalists were expelled from the country for reporting which had angered the authorities. |
Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes was detained on Friday and interrogated for eight hours, before being made to sign a statement of apology. He and his colleagues left on Monday. | Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes was detained on Friday and interrogated for eight hours, before being made to sign a statement of apology. He and his colleagues left on Monday. |
The BBC said it was disappointed by North Korea's decision. | The BBC said it was disappointed by North Korea's decision. |
At the rally in Pyongyang on Tuesday, Mr Kim was seen waving to the crowds and chatting with military and party officials. | At the rally in Pyongyang on Tuesday, Mr Kim was seen waving to the crowds and chatting with military and party officials. |
Hundreds of thousands of people, waving pink paper flowers, coloured balloons and red party flags, marched through the square. The parade also featured floats, some of them carrying mock-ups of missiles. | |
At the scene: Stephen Evans, BBC News, Pyongyang | At the scene: Stephen Evans, BBC News, Pyongyang |
Numbers at the rally are hard to estimate but I counted blocks of marchers 50 people wide and 50-plus people long passing for an hour, some goose-stepping holding red banners. | Numbers at the rally are hard to estimate but I counted blocks of marchers 50 people wide and 50-plus people long passing for an hour, some goose-stepping holding red banners. |
There were tightly choreographed displays of flag waving. Others were in civilian clothes, the women in traditional Korean dress and the men in suits with a collar and tie. | There were tightly choreographed displays of flag waving. Others were in civilian clothes, the women in traditional Korean dress and the men in suits with a collar and tie. |
These did not march but leapt and bounded along the square, cheering ecstatically and gazing up at the balcony behind which Kim Jong-un sat or stood. | These did not march but leapt and bounded along the square, cheering ecstatically and gazing up at the balcony behind which Kim Jong-un sat or stood. |
We asked them why they were so ecstatic. The answer, invariably, was that they were so happy to see the elevation of Marshal Kim Jong-un to the chairmanship of the Workers' Party. | |
It's very hard to know what people think. It may be a mixture. Unobtrusively I watched the faces of some North Koreans I know and their ecstasy seemed genuine. But that doesn't mean the people aren't also oppressed: numerous accounts by defectors and the absence of meaningful elections indicate they are. | |
The confirmation of a new title for Mr Kim's sister had been widely expected. . | The confirmation of a new title for Mr Kim's sister had been widely expected. . |
She is already influential as vice-director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, but her elevation to the central committee is seen as a further consolidation of power around her brother. | She is already influential as vice-director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, but her elevation to the central committee is seen as a further consolidation of power around her brother. |
More than 100 foreign reporters have been granted visas to cover the congress, although only a few were, briefly, allowed in to watch the meeting. | More than 100 foreign reporters have been granted visas to cover the congress, although only a few were, briefly, allowed in to watch the meeting. |
The congress, which began on Friday, also launched a new five-year plan for the economy, which has been hit by some of its strongest sanctions yet after the country's recent nuclear and rocket tests. | The congress, which began on Friday, also launched a new five-year plan for the economy, which has been hit by some of its strongest sanctions yet after the country's recent nuclear and rocket tests. |
Mr Kim also used a speech to say the North would not use its nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty was threatened. | Mr Kim also used a speech to say the North would not use its nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty was threatened. |
China has sent a message of congratulations to Mr Kim on his new position, though it declined to send a representative to the gathering. | |
Analysts suggested this may be because of unhappiness with recent indications Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its fifth nuclear test. | Analysts suggested this may be because of unhappiness with recent indications Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its fifth nuclear test. |