As the world celebrates the beginning of the New Year, even the reclusive state of North Korea joined in the festivities.<br/> <br />Fireworks lit up the sky above Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang where thousands of people had gathered at midnight.<br/> <br />Residents of Pyongyang offered flowers, paying their respects at the statues of the country's revered former leaders -- Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung -- the father and grandfather of Kim Jong Un, who runs the country now.<br/> <br />Kim and his wife visited the mausoleum in remembrance..<br/> <br />Kim chose this auspicious time to publically comment for the first time on the execution of his Uncle.<br/> <br />In a New Year message broadcast on state TV he said his party took "firm measures to get rid of a factional filth that permeated the party".<br/> <br />He added that the move had strengthened the party's unity a hundred fold.<br/> <br />North Korea announced in mid December it had executed Jang Song Thaek after convicting him of "acts of treachery".<br/> <br />The mo
