[ti:North Korea to Mark Anniversary of Kim Jong Un’s Grandmother] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.00]North Korea prepares to observe the death anniversary of Kim Jong Un's grandmother [00:09.82]as world leaders increase criticism of its missile and nuclear test program. [00:18.99]Kim Jong Sook was the grandmother of the North Korean leader. [00:25.12]A popular figure in North Korea, [00:29.28]she was the first wife of the country's founding leader, Kim Il Sung. [00:37.25]He ruled for more than 45 years until his death in 1994. [00:46.15]Then, the son of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Sook, Kim Jong Il, came to power. [00:54.93]He ruled until his death in 2011. [01:00.60]At that time, his son, Kim Jong Un, became leader. He has ruled North Korea ever since. [01:12.28]Major observances are planned to mark the September 22 anniversary, [01:21.21]according to sources who spoke to Radio Free Asia. [01:26.07]North Korea began to emphasize the role of Kim Jong Sook [01:33.04]after last year's 7th Congress of the ruling Korean Workers' Party, a source said. [01:41.30]At one event on August 15, she was called "the Mother of the Revolution, the source added. [01:51.17]Flowers from Kim Jong Un will be placed on a statue of Kim Jong Sook [01:59.30]at her birthplace in North Hamgyong province, said another source. [02:05.62]The celebrations will be a way for officials [02:10.37]to emphasize Kim Jong Un's direct blood ties to North Korea's founding couple. [02:18.65]According to another source in North Hamgyong province, [02:24.69]the observances under former leader Kim Jong Il were handled more quietly. [02:32.00]"But this has become a more important event now that Kim Jong Un is in charge," the source said. [02:42.29]The observances come as the international community [02:47.15]attempts to put more pressure on North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program. [02:55.28]North Korea has a history of marking anniversaries with nuclear and missile tests. [03:04.32]The country tested its fifth nuclear device on the anniversary of its founding last year. [03:13.85]More recently, it tested its sixth nuclear device and several missiles. [03:22.44]Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump used powerful language [03:30.41]to warn North Korea. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, [03:39.35]Trump said that if the U.S. is threatened, in his words, [03:45.35]"We will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." [03:52.04]He also called Kim "rocket man," saying he seemed to be on "a suicide mission." [04:01.21]On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order permitting the U.S. [04:07.48]to sanction individual companies and institutions that do business with North Korea. [04:16.31]He announced the action during a working lunch [04:21.40]with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. [04:29.27]Speaking to the U.N. General Assembly Thursday, [04:33.68]Moon said he approved of sanctions being placed on North Korea [04:40.29]to help resolve the nuclear conflict. [04:43.92]But he urged North Korea to agree to hold talks on the issue to prevent a possible conflict. [04:55.13]Although South Korea is backing sanctions against North Korea, [05:02.15]it also decided to move forward with a planned aid package [05:08.19]worth $8 million to its communist neighbor. [05:13.75]I'm Caty Weaver. [05:15.35]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM