Korea Fetes Heir With Massive Parade

With its Dear Leader and Dear Leader-apparent in attendance, North Korea celebrated the 65th anniversary of its ruling Workers Party with a huge military parade today, broadcasting the event live and even letting foreign media in to give the country and the world the first public look at Kim Jong Un. Dressed in a civilian suit, the younger Kim sat by his father, who appeared frail and looked to be limping at times.

The grand scope of the parade indicated it was more than just an anniversary celebration, and likely meant as a boost to the younger Kim. "The parade served as a sign that the military has loyalty to the successor," says one expert. But there was no sign of warming US-Korean relations, notes the AP, as missile after missile rolled by with signs reading: "Defeat the US military. US soldiers are the Korean People's Army's enemy." (More Kim Jong Il stories.)