A North Korean anniversary and debut

North Korea is in the midst of a series of large-scale events designed to both commemorate the 65th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party, and to introduce heir apparent Kim Jong Un to the North Korean people and the world. Current leader Kim Jong Il is now 69 years old and ailing, and has now positioned his twenty-something son, Kim Jong Un, as his successor through recent military and party promotions, and through media coverage of him by his father's side. Many western reporters were invited to these performances, though their freedom to cover events was still limited by minders. Collected here are images from the recent highly-orchestrated events in Pyongyang, and the "young general" Kim Jong Un. (33 photos total)

North Korea leader Kim Jong Il's son Kim Jong Un is photographed as he attends a massive military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the communist nation's ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. Kim Jong Un's recent public prominence and promotion have signaled him as the heir apparent to his ailing father's ruling position in North Korea. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il (center, seated), poses with the newly elected members of the central leadership body of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the participants in the WPK Conference at the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang in this picture released by the North's KCNA news agency September 30, 2010. Kim Jong-un (8th L, seated), the youngest son of Kim Jong Il, was recently promoted to senior political and military positions. (REUTERS/KCNA). #

An undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on October 9, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il visiting the family of an artist who have just moved to a new apartment houses on the bank of the River Taedong in Pyongyang. (KNS/AFP/Getty Images) #

A soldier stands guard outside May Day stadium during the Arirang festival in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. (Dieter Depypere/Bloomberg) #

North Koreans perform during the Arirang Mass Games in Pyongyang October 9, 2010 in this picture released by North Korea's KCNA news agency early Sunday. The characters read,"Stand on your own land and your eyes look the world". (REUTERS/KCNA) #

North Korean soldiers attend the Arirang mass games to mark the 65th anniversary of the communist nation's ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. Leader Kim Jong Il brought dancers at the Arirang mass games to tears Saturday by making a rare appearance at the festival on the second day of celebrations in the North Korean capital. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

A North Korean dancer performs during a Arirang mass games in Pyongyang, North Korea on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

North Korean soldiers attend the Arirang mass games in Pyongyang on October 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

North Korean dancers perform during the Arirang mass games on the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Oct. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

A costumed dancer performs in the Arirang mass games in Pyongyang, North Korea on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

In this photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Kim Jong Un, third from left, the third son of North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il, applauds while watching the Arirang mass games performance in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Yao Dawei) #

A North Korean soldier stands guard in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (Dieter Depypere/Bloomberg) #

North Korean soldiers smile before a parade to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang October 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic)#

Dancers perform during a gala show to mark the 65th anniversary of the communist nation's ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

North Koreans wave at vehicles driving past in a parade in Pyongyang on October 10, 2010, in this picture released by North Korea's KCNA news agency on Sunday. (REUTERS/KCNA) #

Picture taken and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on October 10, 2010 shows a military parade of the units of the three services of the Korean People's Army, the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards was held with at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. (KNS/AFP/Getty Images) #

A North Korean soldier salutes on a tank during a massive military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the communist nation's ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

North Koreans take part in a military parade in Pyongyang on October 10, 2010, in this picture released by North Korea's KCNA news agency on Sunday. (REUTERS/KCNA) #

North Korean soldiers march in a massive military parade on the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

North Koreans spell out "65" on the Kim Il Sung Square as North Korea marked the 65th anniversary of its ruling party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) #

Military personnel participate in a military parade in Pyongyang on October 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Kyodo)#

North Korean soldiers react during a massive military parade in Pyongyang on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

A North Korean soldier films military vehicles carrying missiles in a parade in Pyongyang October 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic)#

North Korean soldiers march in a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Yao Dawei) #

This picture, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on October 11, 2010 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il inspecting the the units of the three services of the Korean People's Army, the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards which was held at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. (KNS/AFP/Getty Images) #

People in the audience applaud North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during a military parade in Pyongyang October 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic) #

A boy wears a North Korean army hat near the Party Foundation Monument in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang October 11, 2010. (REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic) #

Fireworks erupt over Pyongyang during a gala evening to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea on October 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic) #

Participants wave to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son Kim Jong Un during a night celebration in Pyongyang on Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) #

A North Korean dancer performs during a gala show in Pyongyang on Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

North Koreans perform during the "Grand Evening Gala" titled "Do Prosper, Era of Workers' Party", in Pyongyang on October 10, 2010, in this picture released by the North's KCNA news agency. (REUTERS/KCNA) #

A North Korean dancer cries during the gala anniversary show in Pyongyang on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son Kim Jong Un attend the massive military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #