Kim Jong-un weeps as he begs for forgiveness for his failures during coronavirus pandemic

Kim Jong-un wept during a huge military parade in North Korea as he issued a rare apology for his failures during the coronavirus outbreak.

The leader removed his glasses and wiped away his tears as he spoke at the parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling Workers’ party.

He said, according to a translation in The Korea Times: ‘Our people have placed trust, as high as the sky and as deep as the sea, in me, but I have failed to always live up to it satisfactorily. I am really sorry for that.’

Kim Jong-un wept during a huge military parade in North Korea as he issued a rare apology for his failures during the coronavirus outbreak

The leader removed his glasses and wiped away his tears as he spoke at the parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the country's ruling Workers' party

The leader removed his glasses and wiped away his tears as he spoke at the parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling Workers’ party

He continued: ‘Although I am entrusted with the important responsibility to lead this country upholding the cause of the great Comrades Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il thanks to the trust of all the people, my efforts and sincerity have not been sufficient enough to rid our people of the difficulties in their lives.’ 

Analysts said the speech was a display of the mounting pressure on his regime as Kim discussed the three hardships afflicting his people, Covid-19, international sanctions and natural disasters.  

Hong Min, director of the North Korea division at the Korean Institute for National Unification, told the Korea Times: ‘Underneath his message, one can sense that Kim is feeling a lot of pressure on his leadership. 

‘During the speech, he used terms like “grave challenges”, “countless ordeals” and “disasters unprecedented in history”.

Analysts said the speech was a display of the mounting pressure on his regime as Kim discussed the three hardships afflicting his people, Covid-19, international sanctions and natural disasters

Analysts said the speech was a display of the mounting pressure on his regime as Kim discussed the three hardships afflicting his people, Covid-19, international sanctions and natural disasters

During the parade, Kim unveiled a 'monster' new intercontinental ballistic missile which is capable of reaching the US mainland

During the parade, Kim unveiled a ‘monster’ new intercontinental ballistic missile which is capable of reaching the US mainland

‘This shows that he is having a really hard time governing, and he feels pressured from worries that his people might be upset or swayed by this kind of difficulty. That is why he put a lot of emphasis on the people in this speech.’  

During the parade, Kim unveiled a ‘monster’ new intercontinental ballistic missile which is capable of reaching the US mainland.

Analysts said the missile, which was shown on a transporter vehicle with 11 axles, would be one of the largest road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in the world if it becomes operational.

‘This missile is a monster,’ said Melissa Hanham, deputy director of the Open Nuclear Network.

Also displayed were the Hwasong-15, which is the longest-range missile ever tested by North Korea, and what appeared to be a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

In this image made from video broadcasted by North Korea's KRT, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country's ruling party in Pyongyang

In this image made from video broadcasted by North Korea’s KRT, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling party in Pyongyang

This image made from video broadcasted by North Korea's KRT, shows a military parade with what appears to be possible new intercontinental ballistic missile at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang

This image made from video broadcasted by North Korea’s KRT, shows a military parade with what appears to be possible new intercontinental ballistic missile at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast on October 10, 2020 shows North Korean Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast on October 10, 2020 shows North Korean Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast on October 10, 2020 shows North Korean tanks during a military parade today

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast on October 10, 2020 shows North Korean tanks during a military parade today

Ahead of the parade, officials in South Korea and the United States said Kim Jong Un could use the event to unveil a new ‘strategic weapon’ as promised earlier this year.

A senior US administration official called the display of the ICBM ‘disappointing’ and called on the government to negotiate to achieve a complete denuclearisation.

The parade featured North Korea’s ballistic missiles for the first time since Kim began meeting with international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, in 2018.

‘We will continue to build our national defence power and self-defensive war deterrence,’ Kim said, but vowed that the country’s military power would not be used preemptively. He made no direct mention of the United States or the now-stalled denuclearisation talks.

Kim blamed international sanctions, typhoons, and the coronavirus for preventing him from delivering on promises of economic progress.

‘I am ashamed that I have never been able to repay you properly for your enormous trust,’ he said. ‘My efforts and devotion were not sufficient to bring our people out of difficult livelihoods.’

The video showed Kim make an appearance as a clock struck midnight. Dressed in a grey suit and tie, he waved to the crowd and accepted flowers from children while surrounded by military officials in Pyongyang’s recently renovated Kim Il Sung Square. 

Kim Jong Un kisses a child as he enters to make a speech for the Democratic Workers' Party's 75th anniversary march

Kim Jong Un kisses a child as he enters to make a speech for the Democratic Workers’ Party’s 75th anniversary march

Crowds of North Koreans cheer as the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un enters to make a speech for the ruling party's 75th anniversary

Crowds of North Koreans cheer as the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un enters to make a speech for the ruling party’s 75th anniversary 

Infantrymen stand next to an armoured vehicle during the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang

Infantrymen stand next to an armoured vehicle during the 75th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang

The parade was highly choreographed, with thousands of troops marching in formation, displays of new conventional military equipment including tanks, and fighter jets launching flares and fireworks.

Experts said that the new, larger ICBM is likely designed to carry multiple independent reentry vehicles (MIRVs), allowing it to attack more targets and making interception more difficult.

The new ICBM is likely intended to dispel doubts about North Korea’s ability to strike the continental United States, and an implicit threat that they are preparing to test the larger missile, said Markus Garlauskas, a former US intelligence officer for North Korea.

‘If the Hwasong-15 could carry a ‘super-large’ nuclear warhead to anywhere in the U.S., then the natural question is what can this larger missile carry?,’ he said. 

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast today shows North Korean Hwasong-12 intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast today shows North Korean Hwasong-12 intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade

Generals salute the Supreme Leader as they ride in armoured vehicles during the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang

Generals salute the Supreme Leader as they ride in armoured vehicles during the 75th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang

Generals salute the Supreme Leader as they ride in armoured vehicles during the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang

Generals salute the Supreme Leader as they ride in armoured vehicles during the 75th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang

Kim became visibly emotional as he thanked the troops for their sacrifice in responding to natural disasters and preventing a corovonavirus outbreak.

He said he was grateful that not a single North Korean had tested positive for the disease, an assertion that South Korea and the United States have previously questioned.

While attendees at other celebratory events were shown wearing masks, no one at the parade appeared to be wearing them.

Kim said he hoped that North and South Korea would join hands again when the global coronavirus crisis is over.

South Korean officials said this week that Kim could use the event as a ‘low intensity’ show of power ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 3, as denuclearisation talks with Washington have stalled.

In a congratulatory message to Kim for the anniversary, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he intended to ‘defend, consolidate and develop’ ties with North Korea, its state media said on Saturday.    

North Korea has held a massive military parade and public rally to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country's ruling party

North Korea has held a massive military parade and public rally to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling party

People bow before the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at Mansu hill as the country marks the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, in Pyongyang

People bow before the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at Mansu hill as the country marks the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, in Pyongyang 

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast today shows a general view of a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast today shows a general view of a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea 

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast today shows North Korean Hwasong-12 intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea, on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang

A screen grab taken from a KCNA broadcast today shows North Korean Hwasong-12 intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea, on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang

KIM JONG UN’S LETTERS TO TRUMP IN FULL 

 Source: CNN

DECEMBER 25, 2018: Letter from Kim Jong Un to President Trump 

Your Excellency,

It has been 200 days since the historic DPRK-US summit in Singapore this past June, and the year is now almost coming to an end. Even now I cannot forget that moment of history when I firmly held Your Excellency’s hand at that beautiful and sacred location as the whole world watched with great interest and hope to relive the honor of that day. As I mentioned at that time, I feel very honored to have established an excellent relationship with a person such as Your Excellency.

As the new year 2019 approaches, critical issues that require endless effort toward even higher ideals and goals still await us. Just as Your Excellency frankly noted, as we enter the new year the whole world will certainly once again come to see, not so far in the future, another historic meeting between myself and Your Excellency reminiscent of a scene from a fantasy film.

I have already instructed my closest and most trusted colleagues and the relevant organs to speed up the preparations for holding a second DPRK-US summit and am prepared to achieve good results with Your Excellency during the next meeting.

Nevertheless, what worries me is that it may not reflect positively on us should both sides appear to stubbornly insist on our respective positions regarding the location of the summit. It could also result in wasting a lot of time. Therefore, my position is to urgently hold senior-level contact between the DPRK and the US to internally (translator’s note: privately) discuss and coordinate issues regarding the location.

I hope that Your Excellency will once again demonstrate great decisiveness and excellent leadership to accomplish results in the second DPRK summit. I wholeheartedly hope that the things that Your Excellency seeks to achieve will come to great fruition.

I wish the honorable First Lady, your family and those close to you good health, happiness and great success.

Sincerely, with unchanging respect for Your Excellency the President,

Chairman State Affairs Commission

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Kim Jong Un

25 December 2018

JUNE 10, 2019: Letter from Kim Jong Un to President Trump

 Your Excellency Mr. President,

I am writing this letter to you as we are nearing the first anniversary of our meeting in Singapore on June 12 — the historic moment of great significance that captured the attention of the world and left an imprint still indelible in my memory — as well as to congratulate you on your birthday, which is just days away. I take it as a great honor to be able to send such a letter to Your Excellency.

I extend my sincere and warm regards to Your Excellency on the occasion of your birthday. My regards also to the First Lady and the rest of your family and all your people, and I wish everyone good health and happiness and hope that everyone’s dream will become a beautiful reality.

Like the brief time we had together a year ago in Singapore, every minute we shared 103 days ago in Hanoi was also a moment of glory that remains a precious memory. Such a precious memory that I have in my unwavering respect for you will provide impetus for me to take my steps when we walk toward each other again someday in the future.

I also believe that the deep and special friendship between us will work as a magical force that leads the progress of the DPRK-US relations, clearing all the hurdles we face in the process of bringing about the developments we seek to achieve.

Your Excellency Mr. President, I still respect and lay my hopes on the will and determination that you showed in our first meeting to resolve the issue of our unique style that nobody had ever tried, and to write a new history. Today’s reality is that without a new approach and the courage it takes, the prospects for resolution of the issue will only be bleak.

I believe the one day will come sooner or later when we sit down together to make great things happen, with the will to give another chance to our mutual trust. Such a day should come again. It may well be recorded as yet another fantastic moment in history.

I assure Your Excellency that my respect for you will never change.

Happy birthday once again, Your Excellency. I hope Your Excellency will always be in good health and achieve success in your work. I extend my best wishes on behalf of my family to the First Lady and the rest of your family.

Sincerely yours,

Kim Jong Un