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North Korea celebrates founder's birthday

FILE - In this Tuesday, April 10, 2012 file photo, North Korean guide Kim Won Ho, right, speaks to a foreign journalist near a photo depicting the 2009 satellite rocket launch at the Three Revolutions exhibition hall in Pyongyang, North Korea. According to North Korea's official version of things, commemorated on postage stamps and re-enacted in mass performances, the country's first venture into space was 14 years ago, when the "Bright Shining Star 1" satellite roared into orbit and began broadcasting marching music praising Kim Il Sung. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, April 10, 2012 file photo, North Korean guide Kim Won Ho, right, speaks to a foreign journalist near a photo depicting the 2009 satellite rocket launch at the Three Revolutions exhibition hall in Pyongyang, North Korea. According to North Korea's official version of things, commemorated on postage stamps and re-enacted in mass performances, the country's first venture into space was 14 years ago, when the "Bright Shining Star 1" satellite roared into orbit and began broadcasting marching music praising Kim Il Sung. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

North Korea has held a series of events leading up to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il-Sung on Apr. 15. Kim Jong Un gave his first public speech since taking power, portraying himself as a strong military chief unafraid of foreign powers as the army showed off what appeared to be a new long-range missile.