Singing soldiers herald Kim's birthday in North Korea

MOUNT KUMGANG, North Korea-Synchronized swimmers and singing soldiers marked the birthday on Saturday of the man dubbed North Korea's "outstanding thinker" by state media, but mystery still surrounded the leader's choice of successor.The communist world's first dynastic leader, Kim Jong-il, turned 66 as the head of state in a land that treats him like a deity, although his destitute country has fallen more deeply into poverty in his years in power."Only victory and glory are in store for the army and people of the DPRK (North Korea) as long as they have Kim Jong-il," the North's official KCNA news agency said in one of several commentaries lauding Kim.Kim usually is conspicuously absent from the celebrations the North's propaganda machine calls "the most auspicious day of the nation".But that did not stop thousands from dancing in the streets of Pyongyang, acrobats from tumbling in his honor or synchronized swimmers performing a choreographed routine to the tune "Our General is Best". Kim suffers from chronic illness and although he has boasted about his fitness, attention is focused on which of his three known sons may succeed him.North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung was 62 when he tipped Kim Jong-il as his successor, giving his son decades to build trust with the country's powerful military.Dongseo University professor Brian Myers, a specialist in North Korea's political ideology, said time may be running out for Kim to anoint a successor given the years it takes to build a cult of personality fit for a leader of North Korea

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As in the days of Noah....