Kim marks 9yrs since death of former NKO leader

North Korea's current leader Kim Jong Un paid his respects to former leader Kim Jong Il, on the ninth anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death, state media reported.

The young Kim made a routine visit to the giant building where Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung lie in state.

North Korean state news agency KCNA released one photo of the event, showing Kim Jong Un flanked by the senior officials who appear together with him at important events.

The KCNA report named Choe Ryong Hae, Ri Pyong Chol, Kim Tok Hun and Pak Pong Ju, but did not mention Kim Yo Jong, widely believed to be Kim Jong Un's sister, who also appeared in the photo.

North Korea traditionally requires its population to make a show of loyalty on major holidays and anniversaries, including the anniversaries of the deaths of former leaders Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung.

Kim Jong Un's no show at one of these anniversaries earlier this year sparked several weeks of speculation about his health.

Kim Jong Il died on 17 December 2011, according to the official North Korean record, but his death was only announced two days later, on 19 December 2011.