North Korean leader praises military in first public speech

Kim Jong Un spoke publicly for the first time today, praising his father Kim Jong Il's "military first" policy during celebrations marking the 100th birthday of the nation's late founder.

Kim Jong Un spoke publicly for the first time today, praising his father Kim Jong Il's "military first" policy during celebrations marking the 100th birthday of the nation's late founder.

Kim, who has been seen but not publicly heard since taking over after Kim Jong Il's death in December, stepped to the podium to speak before tens of thousands of people gathered in Pyongyang's main square for meticulously-choreographed festivities meant to glorify his grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung.

Kim Jong Un said the era when nuclear arms could be used to threaten his country was "forever over".

He called for strengthening the country's "military first" policy by placing the "first, second and third" priorities on military might.

He said his country had built a "mighty military" capable of both offence and defence in any type of modern warfare.

"Superiority in military technology is no longer monopolised by imperialists," he said.

Soldiers were more important than rockets and artillery, Kim said, and military officers should treat their troops "like brothers and sisters".

He said he was "heartbroken" that the rival Koreas had been divided for decades, and said North Korea "will co-operate with anyone" who truly wishes for reunification.

North Korea defied the US and others on Friday by firing a long-range rocket that space experts said was mounted with an observational satellite, despite warnings against pushing ahead with the provocative launch.

Washington and others say it was a covert test of long-range missile technology.

Hours after the rocket splintered into pieces over the Yellow Sea, the country made an unusual admission of failure, but Kim did not mention the launch in his remarks today.

Kim Jong Un has since underlined the country's "military first" policy with a budget that allocates a sizeable chunk of funding to defence spending.

International condemnation of the rocket firing was swift, including the suspension of US food aid, and there are worries that the North's next move could be an even more provocative nuclear test.

The United Nations Security Council condemned the launch as a violation of resolutions that prohibit North Korea from developing its nuclear and missile programmes.

The council imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and stepped up sanctions after its second in 2009.

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