Kumsusan Palace

North Korea celebrated the birthday of late ruler Kim Jong-Il Monday with mass fireworks, high-ranking military promotions and a rally by senior officials to pledge loyalty to current leader Kim Jong-Un.

The US called for a united front against North Korea after the "ominous" execution of leader Kim Jong-Un's uncle as South Korea put its forces on alert for any "provocations" from its nuclear-armed neighbour.

North Korea says late leader Kim Jong Il's body will be permanently laid in state in a memorial palace in the capital. Kim's body will be displayed at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the embalmed body of his father - North Korea founder Kim Il Sung - has been lying since 1995. He died in 1994.

North Korea celebrated the birthday of late ruler Kim Jong-Il Monday with mass fireworks, high-ranking military promotions and a rally by senior officials to pledge loyalty to current leader Kim Jong-Un.

The US called for a united front against North Korea after the "ominous" execution of leader Kim Jong-Un's uncle as South Korea put its forces on alert for any "provocations" from its nuclear-armed neighbour.

North Korea says late leader Kim Jong Il's body will be permanently laid in state in a memorial palace in the capital. Kim's body will be displayed at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the embalmed body of his father - North Korea founder Kim Il Sung - has been lying since 1995. He died in 1994.