video transcript

PLEASE NOTE, THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL (ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION) North Korea unveiled a new massive statue of former leader Kim Jong-il on Friday (April 13) following a failed rocket launch. Earlier in the day, the North admitted its much hyped long-range rocket failed to deliver a satellite into orbit while U.S. and South Korean officials said it crashed into the sea a few minutes after its launch. North's state-television broadcast a massive unveiling ceremony of Kim Jong-il's statue, which stood next to his father and founder, Kim Il-sung's statue. The ceremony was attended by current leader Kim Jong-un. Hundreds of North Koreans lined neatly in rows stood in a big square, laying flowers and cheering the unveiling. Erecting Kim Jong-il's statue is seen as an attempt to strengthen his personality cult and help the dynastic succession of his son, Jong-un. Pyongyang had defied international pressure from the United States, the United Nations and others to push ahead with the rocket launch timed to celebrate the 100th birthday of Kim Il-sung, the deceased founder of the state.