North Korea's state media on Sunday called for loyalty to its leader Kim Jong-un ahead of the death anniversary of the founder of the country, Kim Il-sung, later this week, amid tensions over the North's weapons testing and defense pact with Russia. The North's main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, made the call as the nation is set to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Kim Il-sung, who ruled the country from 1948 to 1994 and is the grandfather of the current ruler, Kim Jong-un, on Monday. "The path of wholeheartedly following the will of (Kim Jong-un), it is on this path there lies the eternal life of the great leader, and the path to most perfectly and excellently realizing the great leader's lifelong wish," an article on its front page read. State media refer to Kim Il-sung by the title "great leader." The article listed a series of projects undertaken by the current leader, such as building a new training school of the ruling party, calling them wishes of the late founder. The North's official Korea n Central News Agency also introduced the Rodong Sinmun article in an English-language dispatch. "The immortality of the leader is a sacred world that comes true only through the great succession. The succession to the great idea and intention is, indeed, the immortality of the President preserved by the respected General Secretary Kim Jong-un," it said, referring to Kim Il-sung by the title of president. "Let us always remain faithful to the respected General Secretary and achieve a fresh victory of the revolution without fail under his guidance. This is our sacred pledge before the President," it said. Kim Jong-un's hair and fashion style early in his rule was similar to that of Kim Il-sung, with observers saying the look was intended to secure loyalty from the public and consolidate power. North Korea usually holds big commemorative ceremonies on every fifth or 10th anniversary of a major national event. The country held large-scale commemorations for the 20th and 25th death anniversaries of the late f ounder in 2014 and 2019, respectively. Source: Yonhap News Agency