Day Of The Shining Star: Could North Korea launch new missile TODAY as birthday ’gift’?

North Korea holds the bank holiday on February 16 every year and it is considered the most important in the country.

Just ahead of the last year’s celebration, Pyongyang fired a missile and dedicated it to the former leader.

North Korean officials branded it the “best possible gift for Generalissimo Kim Jong Il on his 75th birthday.”

That test of an intermediate-range Pukguksong-2 saw fears over World War 3 and angry rhetoric from Donald Trump reach their peak.

And with all eyes on the Koran peninsula for the Winter Olympics, there are concerns Kim may try a similar trick this time around too. 

The Day of the Shining Star marks of the birth of current dictator Kim Jong-un’s father.

Its name derives from a propaganda story that a star appeared in the night sky at the exact time he was born.

At midnight, Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun mausoleum where he paid “high tribute” to his father.

State media said: “He entered the hall of immortality where Kim Jong-il lies in state and paid deep homage and made a bow.”

Photos released by the regime showed people celebrating and a large synchronised swimming display.

Ahead of the festival, the Trump administration appeared to threaten force against Pyongyang again, saying Kim would be forced to give up his nukes “one way or another”.

Although Washington would prefer a peaceful solution, there are fears only a “bloody nose” military operation can thwart the tubby tyrant’s nuclear dream.

Mr Trump and his advisers have discussed the possibility of a limited strike on North Korea that would neither knock out its program nor overthrow leader Kim Jong Un’s government.

Such talk of a strike has alarmed Korean experts who warn it could trigger catastrophic retaliation.