Kim Jong Un inspects army institute

PYONGYANG - Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has inspected a military designing institute in his first public appearance following the execution of his uncle-in-law Jang Song Thaek.

During the inspection of the Designing Institute of the Korean People's Army (KPA), Kim stressed the importance of construction in building the DPRK into a civilized socialist country, noting that the designing personnel should make architectural designs impeccable even in the distant future, the official KCNA news agency reported Saturday, without specifying the date of inspection.

"It is the firm determination of the party (The governing Workers' Party of Korea) to create a new history of construction in Songun (military-first) Korea," he said, instructing the institute to play a pioneer's role in the drive to develop the present heyday in construction into a period of great prosperity, the KCNA reported.

Kim was accompanied by KPA Vice-Marshal Choe Ryong Hae, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, KPA General Jang Jong Nam, minister of the People's Armed Forces, and Hwang Pyong So, vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, said the KCNA.

Jang Song Thaek, once a powerful senior official deposed on Monday for allegedly committing "anti-party and counter-revolutionary" crimes, was executed on Thursday immediately after the Special Military Tribunal convicted him guilty of treason.