© Rodong Sinmun
Kim Jong-un has made his first reference to the execution of his powerful uncle, saying in a new year's addres that North Korea's ruling party had become stronger after it was purged of "factional filth".
Kim called for better relations with South Korea, warning that another war on the Korean peninsula would cause a massive nuclear disaster that would hit the United States.
Kim, the third generation of his family to rule North Korea, did not refer by name to his uncle Jang Song Thaek, whose execution in December in a rare public purge for alleged crimes against the ruling Workers' Party and the national interest.
"Our party took a firm measure to get rid of factional filth that permeated the party," Kim said in a broadcast on state television that appeared to be pre-recorded and did not show if he was speaking to an audience.
"Our unity strengthened hundredfold and party and revolutionary lines became more solid by purging the anti-party and anti-revolutionary faction."
After the sudden death of Kim's father in December 2011 Jang acted as regent to his young nephew as Kim established himself in power. With the purge Kim appared to target the only man who may have posed him any real threat.
Kim's call for improved ties with the South followed a threat from Pyongyang in December that it could strike Seoul without notice. "It is time to end abuse and slander that is only good for doing harm ... We will try hard to improve North-South ties," Kim said, adding that "dark clouds of nuclear war constantly hovered over the Korean peninsula".
"If there ever is once again war on this land it will bring about an enormous nuclear disaster and the United States will not be spared from it," he said.
Robert Carlin, a contributor to 38 North, a project of John Hopkins University's US-Korea Institute, noted that so far Pyongyang's treatment of South Koran President Park Geun-hye had avoided the relentless personal attacks on her predecessor. "Many times over the past 30 or 40 years the two sides have started dialogue by agreeing to stop slander of the other," Carlin said.
"It's a relatively easy and verifiable first step. By raising it Kim would appear to be signalling that he's prepared to start off with something concrete, if modest, in order to open the door."
State media reported on Tuesday that Kim rode on a ski lift at the Masik ski resort, a widely publicised public project where the North expects up to 5,000 skiers a day when it opens this year.
Kim has been pushing for massive projects throughout the country that go beyond the ski resort, pleasure parks and apartment blocks reported by state media, largely with the financial aid of its sole main ally China.
On Wednesday he emphasised his eagerness to pursue more construction projects. "This year we should open up a new period of prosperity in construction. Construction is an important frontline to set grounds for the strong nation and people's happiness," he said.
Source: Reuters
I've heard on news that there are some rumors that Kim executed his uncle by throwing him to starving dogs!