North Korea lauded its late former leader Kim Jong-il and called for generations-long loyalty for his son Tuesday as it celebrated his 74th birth anniversary, the North's state broadcaster said Tuesday.

The North marked the birthday of the father of the North's current leader Kim Jong-un, known as the Day of the Shining Star, according to the Korean Central TV Broadcasting Station.

Kim Jong-un inherited power in late 2011, when his father suddenly died of heart failure.

The broadcaster said the late leader helped elevate the North's state power to the highest level as he boosted the nation's sovereignty and dignity in the face of the United States' imperialist forces.

The celebration came more than a week after North Korea launched a long-range rocket carrying what it called a satellite, dubbed the Kwangmyongsong-4, which was named after the late leader. On Jan. 6, the North carried out its fourth nuclear test, inviting strong international condemnation.

On the occasion of the birthday, the North called on its people to show strong allegiance to the current leader.

A day earlier, North Korea held a meeting, mainly attended by key military and party officials, reinforcing the personality cult for the North's former and current leaders.

"(Kim Jong-il) built the DPRK into a matchless military power. This is the eternal feat he performed for the country and revolution," the Korean Central News Agency said, referring to the acronym of the North's full name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (Yonhap)