N.K. leader urges young people to inherit patriotism in meeting of war veterans

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged young people to inherit the spirit of defending their country shown by fallen soldiers and war veterans as the North is set to mark the 62nd anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean war, the North's media said Sunday.

The armistice that ended the Korean War was signed on July 27, 1953, leaving South and North Korea technically in a state of war.

The North has designated the date as "Victory Day."

At the 4th National Conference of War Veterans held on Saturday, the North's leader honored war veterans for fighting for the North during the conflict and urged young people to cherish their spirit and patriotism, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency.

"By cherishing the spirit of defending the country created by their forerunners at the cost of their blood, young people should respond heartily to the calls of their country as the heroic soldiers did in the 1950s," Kim said during his congratulatory speech.

Kim said the war veterans have "devoted all their life" to the independence and prosperity of their country in single-hearted support of the North's leaders and the party.

"Their ennobling fighting spirit and splendid patriotic feats will shine brilliantly in inerasable golden letters in the history of the heroic struggle of our people," he added.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said that the holding of the conference seems to be aimed at solidifying unity from the old generation to the younger one and easing jitters stemming from Kim's reign of terror.

"The North's leader seemed to raise the country's solidarity by praising the patriotism of the war veterans and calling on the young generation to inherit such a spirit," he added.

Kim also offered a rare show of respect to Chinese veterans as they made sacrifices to help North Korea fight the Korean War.

"I also offer my noble respects to the veterans of the Chinese People's Volunteers who fought shoulder to shoulder with our People's Army soldiers at the cost of their blood for the freedom and independence of the Korean people," he said.

It is unusual for Kim to extend respects to Chinese veterans at a time when the North's relations with China have been seriously strained following the North's nuclear test in 2013. (Yonhap)