`North Korean documentary doctored to promote new leader`

Members of a Japanese political party who recently visited North Korea say a North Korean documentary hailing the "achievements" of new leader Kim Jong Un looked doctored, as if his image was added to footage filmed when his late father and predecessor Kim Jong Il was alive.

The major Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun said on Wednesday delegates of Japan’s Social Democratic Party who visited North Korea to attend the centennial birthday celebration of the country’s founder Kim Il Sung were shown a documentary on Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un inspecting military facilities and farms.

The daily said footage in the documentary looked doctored, with Kim Jong Un’s image added to portray him as a “great man” who has long led the North Korean people together with his father.

The Japanese delegates also mentioned an awkward situation at a ceremony to unveil the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. They said North Korean soldiers standing in the front rows had strong physiques, while those in the back rows were skinny and wore loose uniforms.

The delegates also said few North Koreans were moved to tears by the military parade marking the founder of their country`s centennial birthday, adding that they were simply clapping their hands. “We were surprised by the unexpectedly calm atmosphere,” one of the delegates said.

bae2150@donga.com