Kim Jong Suk Wax Statue Unveiled

A wax figure of Kim Jong Suk, which was unveiled at a ceremony on 24 April 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop, KWP Secretary Kim Ki Nam and KWP Secretary Choe Tae Bok, cut a ceremonial ribbon during a dedication ceremony (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported that a wax figure of Kim Jong Suk (Kim Cho’ng-suk), mother of Kim Jong Il and Kim Kyong Hui, was unveiled along with an exhibition on her on Tuesday (24 April) at the International Friendship Exhibition, which is located near Mt. Myohyang in North P’yo’ngan Province.  The unveiling ceremony was attended by members of the DPRK central leadership including Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretaries Choe Tae Bok and Kim Ki Nam, Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop and Gen. Pak Jae Gyong.

KCNA reports:

A hall where stands a wax replica of anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk was opened at the International Friendship Exhibition House of the DPRK.

Standing in the hall is a wax replica depicting woman commander of anti-Japanese guerillas Kim Jong Suk in uniform of the anti-Japanese guerrilla army on the table land full of azaleas in full bloom against the background of Mt. Paektu.

The gifts she received from personages and people of various countries are on display there.

An opening ceremony took place on Tuesday.

Present there were Kim Ki Nam and Choe Thae Bok, members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, and others.

Present there on invitation were staff members of the Chinese embassy here and the chief of the hall of wax replicas of great persons in China and his party.

Choe Thae Bok expressed deep thanks to personages of the Chinese hall for representing the wax replica of Kim Jong Suk.

He said the noble life of Kim Jong Suk was the most brilliant one of an outstanding woman revolutionary.

Zhang Molei, chief of the hall, in his speech bitterly grieved over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il, saying it was their wish to successfully represent the wax replica of Kim Jong Suk so they could please leader Kim Jong Il.

Expressing the will to do more things to contribute to the building of thriving socialist nation in the DPRK, he expressed belief that the Korean people would overcome difficulties and win great victory under the leadership of the dear respected Kim Jong Un.

The participants paid tribute to Kim Jong Suk and looked round the gifts on display.

It is not clear if the KJS statue unveiled Tuesday is the same wax figure the DPRK ordered from China nearly two years ago.  In October 2010 South Korean media reported  that during a meeting with Chinese leadership in August 2010 Kim Jong Il requested a Chinese studio construct a wax statue of his mother.  According to that report, the statue was to be sent to the DPRK in December 2010.

Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (R), KWP Secretary Choe Tae Bok (2nd R) and KWP Secretary Kim Ki Nam tour the exhibits associated with the wax figure (Photo: KCNA)