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After rocket blow, North Korea shows off missile - The Times of India
PYONGYANG: North Korea's new leader addressed his nation and the world for the first time on Sunday, vowing before cheering troops and bouquet-waving citizens to place top priority on his impoverished nation's military, which promptly unveiled a new long-range missile. :thumb::thumb:
The speech was a highlight of two weeks of celebrations marking the centenary of the birth of his grandfather , national founder Kim Ilsung - festivities that were marred by a failed launch on Friday of a rocket that generated international condemnation and cost North Korea a food aid-for-nuclear freeze deal with Washington. Kim Jong Un's speech took North Koreans gathered at Kim Il-sung Square and around televisions across the country by surprise. His father , late leader Kim Jong-il , addressed the public only once in his lifetime. Punctuating Kim's message that the North will continue to pour funds into its military , the parade culminated with the unveiling of a new long-range missile, though it's not clear how powerful or significant the addition is to the North Korean arsenal.
Although the launch was a huge, costly embarrassment for the new leadership, Kim's address was seen by analysts as an expression of confidence meant to show that he is firmly in control.
"Superiority in military technology is no longer monopolized by imperialists, and the era of enemies using atomic bombs to threaten and blackmail us is forever over," Kim said.