North Korean leader, Kim Jong UnHe sheds tears as he issued a rare apology for his failure to guide the country in troubled times that exacerbated it Coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking in prof Huge military parade Held at the weekend to celebrate the ruling Labor Party’s 75th anniversary, Kim took off his glasses and wiped his tears – a sign, analysts say, of mounting pressure on his regime.

“Our people have put faith in me, like the sky and the depth of the sea, but I always fail to adhere to it satisfactorily,” he said, according to a translation of his comments in the “Korea Times”. “I’m really sorry for that.”

Quoting his grandfather and father – the two former leaders of North Korea – Kim continued: “Although I am entrusted with an important responsibility to lead this country in order to support the cause of great comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il thanks to everyone’s trust, my efforts and loyalty were not sufficient to rid our people of difficulties in their lives “.

While the show was in the capital, Pyongyang, featuring An intercontinental ballistic missile is expected to be revealed And other military equipment, analysts said Kim used a large part of his speech to sympathize with the North Korean people.

The title was full of ominous words like “dangerous challenges”, “countless ordeals” and “unprecedented disasters,” according to media reports.

North Korea Trade with China – by far its largest economic partner – has seen a significant decline due to border closures in response to the epidemic, although Pyongyang insists it has not recorded any cases of the virus.

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Years of international sanctions in response to Kim’s nuclear and missile programs, plus the damage caused by natural disasters, have added to his hardship.

A potential new solid-fuel missile will be launched at a parade Saturday at Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea.
A potential new solid-fuel missile will be launched at a parade Saturday at Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. Photo: AP

“It is important to look at why he came to shed tears on such an occasion,” Hong Min, director of the North Korea division at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told the Korea Times. Under his message, one can feel that Kim feels a great deal of pressure on his leadership.

Despite the presence of troops, missiles, tanks, and other evidence of North Korea’s growing military strength, Kim offered support to people around the world suffering from the COVID-19 virus and expressed his hope for improved relations with North Korea. South Korea.

South Korea said it was concerned that the offer appeared to include a new long-range ballistic missile, and the Foreign Ministry called on Pyongyang to resume denuclearization talks.

Kim warned in his speech that he would “fully mobilize” his nuclear power if threatened, but he avoided direct criticism of Washington.

A US official said it is “disappointing” that North Korea continues to prioritize developing nuclear and ballistic missiles Talks with the United States remained deadlockedHe urged Pyongyang to “engage in sustainable and objective negotiations to achieve complete nuclear disarmament.”