North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Tuesday to commemorate the 31st anniversary of President Kim Il Sung’s death, as reported by the Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun.
According to Rodong Sinmun, Kim Jong Un, accompanied by top officials of the Workers’ Party’s Politburo including Pak Thae Song, Choe Ryong Hae, and Jo Yong Won, laid floral tributes at the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at midnight.
The newspaper detailed that Kim paid his respects before the statues of the “Great Leader and the Great General,” then visited the Hall of Eternal Life, where their embalmed bodies lie, offering solemn greetings for their eternal life.
The report further stated that Kim affirmed the enduring legacy of his predecessors, declaring that their revolutionary lives and achievements will shine eternally as the socialist state continues to flourish across generations.
Rodong Sinmun highlighted the pervasive atmosphere of remembrance, stating that not only Kim but also citizens across the nation were filled with profound longing and boundless admiration for the Great Leader, hailed as the founder of socialist North Korea and a pivotal figure of the revolution.
Last year, marking the 30th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s death, Kim Jong Un also paid homage at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. That milestone year saw grand commemorative events, including a memorial concert and a central memorial meeting.
This year’s observance appears more subdued, likely due to it not being a landmark anniversary. Historically, Kim has visited the palace only on significant anniversaries of Kim Il Sung’s death: the 20th (2014), 25th (2019), and 30th (2024).
While the newspaper typically reports Kim’s activities a day later, this visit was reported relatively quickly on the same day it occurred.