N. Korea celebrates Lunar New Year, kicks off 4-day holiday+

PYONGYANG, Feb. 14 Kyodo -
North Korea celebrated the Lunar New Year with public festivities on Sunday,
the first of four days of public holidays in a holiday-studded week.
This year's Lunar New Year's Day falls two days before North Korean leader Kim
Jong Il's 68th birthday, giving the North Koreans four straight days of
holidays, two for each event.
On Sunday, elementary and junior high school students gathered at the
playgrounds of their own school districts and showed off their skills in rope
jumping or kite-flying, both traditional Korean games played on festive
occasions.
At Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang, thousands of Pyongyang residents
were in festive mood, some flying kites, others playing tug-of-war or
roller-skating.
At the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, schoolchildren staged a New Year arts show,
singing, dancing and performing pieces with accordion, violin and traditional
musical instruments.
The Schoolchildren's Art Troupe of Koreans in Japan also took part in the
annual event.
North Korea's No. 2 leader Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the
Supreme People's Assembly, Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Workers' Party of
Korea, People's Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong Chun and foreign diplomats based
in Pyongyang were in the audience.
A musical tribute to Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Il's third son and heir apparent,
was performed toward the end of the arts show.
North Koreans say it is customary to eat rice cakes at home in the New Year
period and gather at the homes of the elder sons to mark the New Year.
North Korea has increased celebrations in the run-up to Kim's birthday. There
are many signs showing the date ''2.16'' on the main streets in Pyongyang. An
exhibition of ''Kimjongilia,'' a flower of the begonia family symbolizing Kim,
began Friday and runs for a week.
All children in the country have received presents on the occasion of the
leader's birthday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday.
Traditionally, the state has given presents to all children in the country on
the occasions of Kim's birthday and the birth anniversary of North Korea's
founder Kim Il Sung, according to KCNA.
Business in North Korea will return to normal on Thursday.
==Kyodo
2010-02-14 21:44:36