This photo, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, shows the statues of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's late grandfather, Kim Il-sung, left, and his late father, Kim Jong-il, at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang. Kim Jong-un visited the site, Dec. 17, 2024, to mark his father's 13th death anniversary. Yonhap

North Korea marked the 83rd birthday of late leader Kim Jong-il, with its propaganda machine calling for loyalty for Kim's son and current leader Kim Jong-un, according to the North's state media Sunday.

The North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried articles that celebrate the late leader and said in an editorial that the North Korean people should "hold up" the regime by Kim Jong-un.

"Comrade Kim Jong-il's sacred history of patriotism and love of the people has been brilliantly inherited and developed by Comrade Kim Jong-un," the editorial said.

The editorial also praised the late leader Kim for making efforts to develop its military capabilities, saying the North's "self-defensive national defense has reached the highest level in the world today."

The North's foreign ministry carried a similar article on its website.

The North Korean Embassy also held an event in Beijing on Saturday to mark the birth anniversary of the late leader, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The KCNA reported that Zhou Qiang, vice chairperson of China's National Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference, and other Chinese officials attended the event in Beijing.

Since 2022, there have been no North Korean reports of Kim Jong-un visiting the mausoleum for Kim Jong-il's birthday on Feb. 16 or Kim Il-sung's birthday on April 15. (Yonhap)