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North Koreans begin celebration of Kim Il-Sung

North Koreans have begun a two-month celebration of their revered former leader, Kim Il-Sung.

As North Asia correspondent Mark Simkin reports the Communist state has described the celebration as the biggest show on earth.

Kim Jong-il took over leadership of the isolated Stalinist state after the death of his father in 1994.

He hasn't attended the opening festival .. but North Korean officials say he watched a large rehearsal last Friday.

The festival is called Arirang after a traditional Korean song. It features 100-thousand people dancing, singing and performing intricate gymnastic manoeuvres against a moving backdrop. It's an enormous and elaborate display, but no one from the government will say how much it's costing the cash starved state. The show will go on for two months. Mark Simkin, Pyongyang.

30/04/2002 11:00:54 | ABC Radio Australia News

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