N. Korea makes part 2 of documentary on Kim Jong-il

N. Korea makes part 2 of documentary on Kim Jong-il
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- North Korean media said Sunday that the country has
completed the second part of a documentary series that chronicles the life of its
leader Kim Jong-il.

The documentary, the first retrospective on the 67-year-old leader, has fueled
speculation that it may be part of efforts to posthumously trumpet his
leadership. North Korea produced a similar documentary for his father and North
Korean founder Kim Il-sung a few years before he died of heart failure in 1994 at
age 82.
The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said "Glorifying the Revolutionary
Traditions," part 2 of the documentary, recounts Kim's exploration in the
mid-1950s of the sacred Mount Paektu, his supposed birth place, and historic
projects that he led in the 1970s.
The first part of the multi-series documentary, produced in mid-July and aired on
North Korean television in late August, tells the story of Kim's younger days
from his birth until his graduation from Kim Il Sung University.
The film's theme underscores the fact that "the DPRK (North Korea) always remains
prosperous thanks to Kim Jong-il," the KCNA said.
Kim, who reportedly suffered a stroke last year, is believed to be grooming his
third and youngest son, Jong-un, as his heir.
North Korea produced a documentary on Kim Il-sung in the early 1990s, soon after
he reportedly developed a hearing problem and his health became feeble.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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