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`Great halo' seen above Pyongyang

A great halo observed near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang left admirers reveling in the marvelous sight that occurred a day before a major anniversary, official media reported yesterday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Saturday's mysterious phenomenon of nature occurred a day before the anniversary of leader Kim Jong-il's assumption of the top military post and underlined the strong cult of personality that exists in North Korea.

"The day was rather cloudy with soft hail falling. At about 9[am], there appeared an unprecedentedly great halo in the sky to the side of Pyongyang to the admiration of the watching people," KCNA said.

"The big ring around the sun stayed for 30 minutes, throwing bright rays of seven colors and, when it disappeared, the hail stopped and not a speck of cloud was seen," it said.

Kim, the only son of the country's founding president Kim Il-sung who died in 1994, marked the 15th anniversary of his assumption of the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army on Sunday.

Kim is revered as a near demigod in North Korea and the "Sun of the 21st Century" is one of a number of honorifics that the communist regime's propaganda scribes have invented for him.

The North's state media often carry reports on halos on major anniversaries of Kim and his family.

In addition to the post, Kim also holds several other top positions, such as the general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and the defense committee chairman.

His father has been declared the eternal president of the comunist country.
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