According to the North Korean report, the USDP official said that the ‘wise leadership of Kim Il-sung enabled the Korean people to liberate the country, win the Fatherland Liberation War and reliably defend socialism despite the imperialists' moves against the DPRK. [Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea].’

The North Korean news report said that the event also celebrated other important dates including ‘the 18th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and the 79th birthday of the Korean People's Army.’

Over the past few years, officials from Burma’s military regime have appeared with increasing regularity in North Korean state media as the two regime’s have strengthened ties following a near two-decade freeze in relations, a trend that has alarmed American politicians.

Earlier this month citing reports that Burma’s military regime has obtained some North Korean missile technology and nuclear programme assistance, three US Republican senators sponsored a resolution calling on President Obama’s administration to investigate the ‘growing relationship between the governments of Burma and North Korea’.

Relations between the rulers of North Korea and Burma were non-existent until just a few years ago, resulting from a fallout from a failed North Korean attempt to assassinate South Korean military ruler Chun Doo-hwan while he was on a visit to Rangoon in 1983.

While Chun Doo-hwan was spared because he was late for a planned wreath laying ceremony, 17 South Korean officials including Deputy Prime Minister Suh Suk-joon and Foreign Minister Lee Bum-suk died.