Leader Kim lauds 'mighty military'

Kim Jong Un spoke publicly for the first time today, praising his father Kim Jong Il's "military first" policy during celebrations marking the 100th birthday of the nation's late founder. Kim, who has been seen but not publicly heard since taking over after Kim Jong Il's death in December, stepped to the podium to speak before tens of thousands of people gathered in Pyongyang's main square for meticulously-choreographed festivities meant to glorify his grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. Kim Jong Un said the era when nuclear arms could be used to threaten his country was "forever over". He called for strengthening the country's "military first" policy by placing the "first, second and third" priorities on military might. He said his country had built a "mighty military" capable of both offence and defence in any type of modern warfare. "Superiority in military technology is no longer monopolised by imperialists," he said. Soldiers were more important than rockets and artillery, Kim said, and military officers should treat their troops "like brothers and sisters". He said he was "heartbroken" that the rival Koreas had been divided for decades, and said North...