North Korea Celebrates its Founder's Birthday, Kerry Reiterates Conditions for Peace Talks

Today, the country of North Korea celebrates the 101st anniversary of their first leader's birth. Like his two successors, Kim Il-sung is revered as a national hero, with crowds across the country gathering to pay homage to the founder.

Instead of military parades however, Kim Il-sung is being celebrated with flowers, a welcome change of pace amid all of the nuclear weapons tension that has plagued international relations as of late.

Many North Koreans have traveled to Mansu Hill in the capital to lay floral arrangements and bow at the feet of a towering Kim Il-sung statue. It is a national custom to lay flowers at the feet of images of Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il on national holidays and anniversaries.

The overall mood in Pyongyang is said to be uncharacteristically cheery, with outdoor music performances and group dancing taking place, common activities during major national celebrations. Special drink stands offering barley tea and soft drinks have also been set up around Mansu Hill and throughout the city.

CBC News reports that one drink stand worker admits the region is tense due to recent events, but said that today "people have got bright faces and are very happy."

Current leader Kim Jong-un reportedly visited the mausoleum containing his grandfather and father earlier today, according to the country's official KCNA news agency. There has been no word on any military related events planned for today.

Despite the celebrations, the United States government has not forgotten about the imminent threat on hand. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned North Korean officials to put a halt to its nuclear ambitions and threats of war if it wants any sort of diplomatic discussions to occur.

"The United States has made clear many times what the conditions are for our entering talks and they haven't changed," Kerry said during an interview with CNN. "The conditions have to be met where the North has to move towards denuclearization, indicate a seriousness in doing so by reducing these threats, stop the testing, and indicate it's actually prepared to negotiate."