N Korea celebrates Kim's birthday

Mr Kim was hailed as 'the sun of the 21st century'

North Korea is marking the 62nd birthday of its leader Kim Jong-il with its usual fare of eulogising speeches and congratulatory editorials.

The state agency said that a "national meeting" to mark the occasion was held on Monday, attended by officials, foreign diplomats and other guests.

Performances and tributes to the "Dear Leader" have been held all week.

Mr Kim inherited power from his father in 1994 and a huge cult of personality has been built around him.

Yang Hyong-sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, hailed the leader as "the peerlessly great man, the sun of the 21st century, who would lead the sacred cause of independence to its final victory".

North Korea is ruled on a self-sufficiency principle known as "juche" and has little contact with the outside world.

Nevertheless, Pyongyang is continuing to negotiate with the US and other powers over its nuclear weapons programme, which the international community wants it to dismantle.

The next six-party talks on the issue will be held in the Chinese capital Beijing on 25 February.