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So often at odds with the international community, North Korea seemed happy to mark the United
Nations-backed International Day Of Older Persons. Joining other countries around the
world on October 1st, the secretive state organised several events for senior citizens
in its capital, Pyongyang.
Footage filmed by state media KCNA, which hasn't been independently verified, showed
elderly people playing volleyball, and other games.
″Today I won a game among senior citizens and it made me very happy. Thanks to our party's
citizen policy, so many people have gathered here today. It seems that I became ten years
younger."
KCNA reported that several events, including sports and dance activities, were held across
Pyongyang.
All this was taking place as US defence secretary Chuck Hagel was meeting his South Korean counterpart
Kim Kwan-jin in Seoul, to discuss the North's nuclear programme.
"Of particular concern are North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, its proliferation
activities, and its chemical weapons. There should be no doubt that any North Korean use
of chemical weapons would be completely unacceptable."
North Korea conducted a third nuclear test in February, two months after successfully
launching a long-range rocket that put an object, which Pyongyang says was a satellite,
into space. The launch resulted in tougher UN sanctions against the impoverished state.
It was widely seen as a test of its long-range missile capabilities, despite Pyongyang's
claims that it was part of its peaceful space project.