North Korea opens photo exhibition marking decade of leader's rule

North Korean officials look at photos at an exhibition in Pyongyang marking the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-un formally assuming the country's leadership, March 28, in this undated photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap

North Korea has kicked off a photo exhibition commemorating a decade of its leader Kim Jong-un's rule, state media reported Monday, working up a festive mood ahead of major political anniversaries next month.

An opening ceremony for the exhibition marking 10 years since Kim took the helm of the nation was held in Pyongyang the previous day, according to the North's main newspaper Rodong Sinmun.

Kim was named "first secretary" of the ruling Workers' Party, April 11, 2012, and the first chairman of the National Defense Commission two days later, following the death of his father Kim Jong-il in Dec. 2011.

North Korean officials look at photos at an exhibition in Pyongyang marking the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-un formally assuming the country's leadership, March 28, in this undated photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap

The exhibition features photo and video materials of the leader's activities during his rule, including that of Kim giving a speech at an event marking the 76th founding anniversary of the ruling party last year, the paper said.

The North is also preparing to mark the 110th anniversary of the birth of Kim's late grandfather and the nation's founder Kim Il-sung, April 15, and the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, April 25.

In time for the landmark anniversaries, observers say, the North is likely to stage a large-scale military parade and carry out additional weapons tests. (Yonhap)