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| N Korea marks leader's birthday | N Korea marks leader's birthday |
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| North Korea is marking the 65th birthday of its leader Kim Jong-il, amid recent progress over plans for the country's nuclear disarmament. | North Korea is marking the 65th birthday of its leader Kim Jong-il, amid recent progress over plans for the country's nuclear disarmament. |
| Mr Kim's birthday is one of the main national holidays, with fireworks and concerts being held to mark the event. | Mr Kim's birthday is one of the main national holidays, with fireworks and concerts being held to mark the event. |
| According to South Korean media, the North is also providing extra food to its poverty-stricken citizens. | According to South Korean media, the North is also providing extra food to its poverty-stricken citizens. |
| But as Mr Kim gets older, speculation is increasing over who will eventually succeed him. | But as Mr Kim gets older, speculation is increasing over who will eventually succeed him. |
| He has not yet publicly named an heir, and three of his sons could be in the running. | He has not yet publicly named an heir, and three of his sons could be in the running. |
| If Mr Kim continues the tradition of passing power to the eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, in his mid 30s, would succeed. | If Mr Kim continues the tradition of passing power to the eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, in his mid 30s, would succeed. |
| But analysts did believe - and some still do - that Kim Jong-nam ruined his chances in 2001, when Japanese officials caught him trying to sneak into Japan using a false passport, an incident which caused severe diplomatic embarrassment to Pyongyang. | But analysts did believe - and some still do - that Kim Jong-nam ruined his chances in 2001, when Japanese officials caught him trying to sneak into Japan using a false passport, an incident which caused severe diplomatic embarrassment to Pyongyang. |
| Analysts say it is important that Mr Kim names an heir soon. | Analysts say it is important that Mr Kim names an heir soon. |
| "If he doesn't have a successor and he dies suddenly of a heart attack then the whole regime will go overnight," author and commentator Jasper Becker told the Associated Press. | "If he doesn't have a successor and he dies suddenly of a heart attack then the whole regime will go overnight," author and commentator Jasper Becker told the Associated Press. |
| Nuclear deal | Nuclear deal |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's Communist Party have both sent messages to congratulate Mr Kim on his birthday, the North's state news agency KCNA reported on Friday. | Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's Communist Party have both sent messages to congratulate Mr Kim on his birthday, the North's state news agency KCNA reported on Friday. |
| In the run-up to the celebrations, local media also reported a festive mood in the country, with arts performances, exhibitions and concerts being held in the capital Pyongyang. | In the run-up to the celebrations, local media also reported a festive mood in the country, with arts performances, exhibitions and concerts being held in the capital Pyongyang. |
| This year, there is more reason than most for optimism. | This year, there is more reason than most for optimism. |
| KIM'S FAMILY Kim has several childrenHis eldest son disgraced himself in JapanBut some believe he is back in favour. Others think a younger boy, Kim Jong-chul, is designated successor Secretive first family On Tuesday a deal was reached during six-nation talks in Beijing, in which Pyongyang agreed to freeze part of its nuclear weapons programme in return for badly needed fuel aid. | |
| Under the agreement, Pyongyang pledged to close its Yongbyon reactor within 60 days, in return for 50,000 metric tons of fuel aid or economic aid of equal value. | |
| The North will eventually receive another one million tonnes of fuel oil or an equivalent when it permanently disables its nuclear operations. | The North will eventually receive another one million tonnes of fuel oil or an equivalent when it permanently disables its nuclear operations. |
| The US has also agreed to begin the process of removing North Korea from its list of terror states and establish diplomatic relations. | The US has also agreed to begin the process of removing North Korea from its list of terror states and establish diplomatic relations. |
| Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe used the occasion of Mr Kim's birthday to urge him to stick to the Beijing agreement. | Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe used the occasion of Mr Kim's birthday to urge him to stick to the Beijing agreement. |
| "In order to make it a good birthday, I hope North Korea will implement what the partners have decided at the six-party talks," Mr Abe said. | "In order to make it a good birthday, I hope North Korea will implement what the partners have decided at the six-party talks," Mr Abe said. |