Pyongyang sees halo, Bush sees 'evil'

Pyongyang sees halo, Bush sees 'evil'

Reuters, Seoul

North Korean media reported on Tuesday the sighting of halos over the birthplace of its leader Kim Jong-il, trumpeting heavenly blessing for a state U.S. President George W. Bush has branded part of an "axis of evil".

Kim marked his 60th birthday on Feb. 16 and the state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) news agency has cranked out reports on "natural wonders" linked to the reclusive leader at the center of intense cult-worship.

"A halo appeared in the sky above the native home of leader Kim Jong-il in the secret camp on Mount Paekdu" on Monday, KCNA said in a report issued just minutes after Bush arrived in South Korea for a visit that will take him to the North-South border.

In its report, KCNA said: "Inhabitants were delighted to see a rare cloud in the shape of Kimjongilia that appeared in the sky." Kimjongilia is an artificially bred flower named after Kim.

"Even the sky above Mount Paekdu area seemed to be decorated with beautiful flowers in reflection of the immense joy and jubilation of the Korean people celebrating the birthday of Kim Jong-il, a great man born of heaven," said KCNA.

On Monday, KCNA said it had snowed for exactly 60 days and dumped exactly 60 cm (two feet) of snow on Kim's mountain birthplace by his 60th birthday.

The deep forests of sacred Mount Paekdu is where North Korea says Kim was born in a secret camp on the Chinese border. Foreign experts say he was actually born in the Soviet Union.

Bush rattled South Korea and angered North Korea in a speech last month calling the North, Iran and Iraq an "axis of evil" because of their arsenals of dangerous weapons.