NORTH Korea ignored fresh offers of dialogue from the US and Japan as it marked
the birth date of Kim Il-sung with an official visit by dictator Kim Jong-un to
his grandfather's tomb.
Predictions the young leader would mark the 101st anniversary of Kim
Il-sung's birth -- known as the Day of the Sun in the family-run dictatorship --
with a missile launch proved incorrect.
The North has a habit of linking high-profile military tests with key
dates, and expectations were high of a medium-range missile test to coincide
with the birthday celebrations for its late founder. Unlike last year, there was
no giant military parade in central Pyongyang, and no speech by the young
Kim.
Rather, tour group leaders and correspondents in Pyongyang described a
festive atmosphere as the residents of the city -- largely privileged elites --
enjoyed a national holiday.
As US Secretary of State John Kerry made another offer of dialogue to
Pyongyang, North Korea's state-run media -- which had carried reports describing
South Korea's earlier offer of talks as a "cunning ploy" -- stayed silent on the
issue.
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