North Korea is marking the 10th anniversary of former leader Kim Jong Il's death and the takeover of his son Kim Jong-un.
AAP
Despite massive economic shocks caused by draconian anti-virus measures and long-dormant diplomacy with the United States, North Korea shows no signs of political instability and few outside experts question Kim's grip on power.Source:But the long-term stability of Kim Jong-un's rule could still be questioned if he fails to work out steps to address the ongoing difficulties and improve public livelihoods, some observers say.
"Great leader and comrade Kim Jong Il is always with us ... and he is the eternal 'suryong' and sun of 'juche ' of our party and revolution," the North's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in an editorial, referring to a revered title reserved for North Korean leaders. North Korea's trade with China, its biggest trading partner and an economic pipeline, shrank by about 80 per cent last year before it plunged again by two-thirds in the first nine months of this year. Last year, the North's economy suffered its biggest contraction since 1997 while its grain production also dropped to its lowest level since Kim took office, according to South Korean government estimates.
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