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In North Korea, July 8th is probably the most important day on its calendar. 10 years ago, Kim Il-sung, the man who founded the country died, passing on his regime to his son Kim Jong-il. Since then, the country has been mired in both political and economic crises, yet managing to defy predictions that it would collapse. As new speculations surface on how the North will survive, all eyes are on whether the younger Kim will choose his next successor on this 10th anniversary.
On the eve of the main commemorative events, in Pyongyang, thousands of North Koreans paid respects to a 20-meter high bronze statue of the late Kim who ruled the country he founded for half a century.
"An endless stream of workers, citizens, soldiers and students are visiting the statue of Great Leader Kim Il-sung to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death," the North's official news agency said
The North's news agency said more than 104 million people from the world over have so far visited the statue and that world leaders such as Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had dedicated a wreath to the late Kim as well.
Kim Il-sung died on July 8, 1994 at the age of 82. Ten years on, North Korea is ruled by Kim's son, Kim Jong-il. The younger Kim is faced with a number of challenges, including an economic crisis and a nuclear standoff with the international community. Even as critics talk of a possible regime collapse North Korea experts such as Jasper Becker, the author of The 'Rouge State: The Continuing Threat of North Korea' explains why Kim continues to remain in power.
"Basically, as long as Kim Jong-il can be assured of getting enough support from South Korea and from China he's probably going to survive, and I don't see, having survived the terrible economic crisis and the famine of the last ten years, I can't really see him being derailed by any internal pressure from within the party or from a discontented populace."
Arirang TV
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