North Korea celebrates leader Kim Jong-il's birthday
North Koreans are joining in mass celebrations to mark the birthday of their leader, Kim Jong-il.
A week of festivities is scheduled, including exhibitions of Kimjongilia, a hybrid flower named after the leader, ice-skating, and music shows.
Pyongyang's streets are decorated with lanterns and goodwill messages, state media reported.
The official line is that this is Mr Kim's 69th birthday; however, records show he was born a year earlier.
The BBC's Nick Ravenscroft reports from Seoul.
16 Feb 2011
- From the section Asia-Pacific