▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on May 20, 2024, shows the North's leader laying a flower at the grave of Hyon Chol-hae, marshal of the Korean People's Army, on the occasion of the second anniversary of his death. Hyon is known to have helped groom the current leader. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-late official

N. Korean leader mourns military official known for close ties with him on 2nd annv. of death

SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the cemetery of Hyon Chol-hae, known to have helped groom the current leader, on the occasion of the second year of his death, Pyongyang's state media reported Monday.

Kim laid a flower at the grave of Hyon in the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery in Sinmi-ri, Pyongyang, on Sunday afternoon, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Hyun, marshal of the Korean People's Army, died at 87 on May 19, 2022. He is known to have played a key role in assisting Kim Jong-il, father of the incumbent leader, in tightening his grip on the military and also helped groom Kim Jong-un as the next leader in the country's hereditary succession.

The North's leader "paid high regard" to Hyon in reflection of his reverence, saying that Hyon's feats in building a strong army will be "immortal in history," the KCNA said.

In 2022, North Korea held a state funeral for Hyon, chaired by Kim Jong-un and attended by key senior officials.

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