The DPRK held various events including a military parade on Feb. 16 in commemoration of the 70th birth anniversary of general secretary Kim Jong Il. This was the greatest event since he passed away last year.

Media and news analysts of Japan, south Korea, U.S. and European countries made a lot of efforts to find out uncommon signs.

The Reuters said that leader Kim Jong Un guided this commemoration event, adding that this indicates a smooth transition of power in the DPRK.

After the passing of Kim Jong Il public opinion of Japan and south Korea predicted various scenarios related to possible disturbance in the DPRK.

Public opinion of Japan on Feb. 16 admitted that it was too pessimistic at the outset and "lacked" understanding of the DPRK.

Under the title "Flowers, Military Parade and Pledge of Loyalists" the AP reported about the military parade.

It said: Leader Kim Jong Un bowed deeply before a large portrait of a smiling leader Kim Jong Il in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, the capital. Army and government officials and citizens followed to pay their respects. Later, leader Kim Jong Un and other officials watched as thousands of goose-stepping soldiers marched by, followed by military jeeps and trucks carrying artillery guns and rocket launchers. Military music boomed and people waved artificial flowers.

The AFP conveyed news that thousands of three services of the Korean People's Army shouted the slogan "Let's dedicate our lives to protect Kim Jong Un".

Choongang Ilbo of south Korea reported that leader Kim Jong Un displayed his leadership ability through his field guidance to different units.

The Reuters said on Feb. 16 that young leader Kim Jong Un had already provided field guidance more than ten times. He talked to soldiers with smile on his face. He shook hands of officers and talked to common soldiers.

The birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il was instituted as the "Day of the Shining Star" in the DPRK.

The Kimjongilia festival, stamp exhibition, sports demonstration performance, a ceremony of unveiling statues, etc. took place one after another. National flags, flags of the Workers' Party of Korea, multi-colored flags and balloons were seen in different parts of Pyongyang and various kinds of flowers were put on the flower stands of the streets in the city.

There was a change in the tone of mass media of Japan on Feb. 16.

The Shukanshincho said that Japan, the U.S. and south Korea were too pessimistic in predicting the situation in the DPRK.

The DPRK is still advancing, pursuant to the line of leader Kim Jong Il. Japan's speculation about the DPRK seems to be like a "novel" at present.

The international community seems to have little understanding of the DPRK.

TBS TV of Japan in a commentary on Feb. 16 said that the DPRK, which had given rise to serious concern of the international community about stability, has fully established the leadership of Kim Jong Un.

Under the title "Leader Kim Jong Il Clearly Indicates Road" a Japanese scholar on Asia-Pacific affairs told Huan Qiu Shibao on Feb. 16 that "Koreans' tears during mourning period were not false. We should renew our understanding of the DPRK".

Asian Times of Hong Kong on Feb. 16 posted on its website an article titled "Leader Kim Jong Il is a beacon brightly indicating the road".

The article said:

"It is the view of the Korean people and the rest of the world that leader Kim Jong Il was the greatest national hero and patriot in Korea's history spanning five thousand years. He was the greatest and staunchest leader in the world history. In the six rounds of big confrontation with war-like Americans, he led the DPRK to emerge victorious, without having his sword stained even with a drop of blood, making it possible for the land of morning calm of ancestors to escape a war. He defended the Korean people so that they might not suffer the same pain as what was done by Iraqis, Libyans and Afghans due to the U.S. military invasion.