North Korea marks its leader's 65th Birthday

North Korea is celebrating the 65th birthday of its leader, Kim Jong Il. The event comes days after North Korea agreed on a deal in Beijing to end its nuclear weapons programme in return for fuel aid.

Kim Jong Il’s birthday is one of North Korea's most important national holidays.

The event is being marked by the country's biggest holiday, with various exhibitions, films and concerts.

On this day North Koreans receive benefits. Adults get half a litre of sunflower oil, 5 eggs, a KG of sugar and even a bottle of wine. As for children, they receive one rice cracker, 5 sticks of chewing gum and 0,5 KG of sweets.

Kim Jong Il took over the communist regime after his father, Kim Il Sung, died in 1994. It was the world's first dynastic succession in a socialist state.

Kim Il Sung is known in North Korea as the “Eternal President” and people often refer to his son as “General Kim Jong Il”.