PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Kim Jong Un has made only his second public speech, addressing a massive children’s rally that’s aimed at winning a new generation’s support for the young leader’s reign.
About 20,000 children were flown from across North Korea to attend Wednesday’s event in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Stadium.
The twenty-something Kim Jong Un’s two speeches since taking power in December provide a striking contrast to his late father. Kim Jong Il made only one brief public speech in his years as leader.
The speech comes only days after North Korea warned it would fire artillery at South Korean news companies unless it got an apology for perceived media insults about the festival.
Tensions are also high following a failed North Korean long-range rocket launch in April.
