North Korea’s idolizing of its late leader Kim Jong-il intensified ahead of his 70th birthday, calling him generalissimo for his role in turning the communist state into a nuclear power, the state media said Wednesday.

The news came one day prior to the late Kim’s Feb. 16 birthday, for which the entire state is to celebrate the event.

Pyongyang’s party, military and people’s commissions released a joint declaration through the Korean Central News Agency that the authorities decided to award the title of generalissimo to the late Kim, who died of a heart attack nearly two months ago on Dec. 17.

The same title was given to his father Kim Il-sung, who founded North Korea, prior to his 80th birthday on April 13, 1992.

“Our comrade Kim Jong-il led the nation’s autonomous military defense industry to a state-of-the-art level and lifted our nation to a nuclear power, a satellite producer and launcher,” the state media said.

On the same day, the North Korean authorities promoted Kim Jong-gak, the first vice-director of the military’s general political bureau, to a vice marshal, according to the KCNA.

North Korea also unveiled the first bronze statue of the late Kim in Pyongyang as part of celebrations to mark his birthday, AP reported on Tuesday.

The unveiling ceremony was held on Tuesday where top political and military leaders attended, it said.

On Monday, new leader Kim Jong-un also promoted 23 generals for the first time since he took power.

Kim Yong-chol, who is believed to have been behind the North’s sinking of South Korean warship Cheonan near western sea border in March 2010, was promoted.

The promotion of titles of the North Korean regime came as Pyongyang is to celebrate what it calls “the Day of the Shining Star,” the birthday of the late Kim.

Earlier on Monday, North Korean senior officials including Ri Yong-ho, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, vowed to safeguard the late Kim’s successor Kim Jong-un on Mount Baekdu, the “sacred” birth place of the late Kim, according to the North Korean media.

There will be a military parade in Pyongyang and a donation event on Kim’s birthday in Pyongyang, news reports said.

In the capital of North Korea, various cultural and art events including a sports event, a book fair and a film festival are being held.

Meanwhile, North Korea is believed to be focusing more on the celebration of Kim Il-sung’s 100th birthday on April 15, rather than on Kim Jong-il’s birthday this month, South Korea’s Unification Ministry spokesperson Kim Hyung-suk said earlier.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)