North Korea has unveiled the first bronze statue of late leader Kim Jong-il as part of celebrations marking his 70th birthday.

The North on Tuesday held the unveiling ceremony on the grounds of the Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang, with top officials and military leaders in attendance.

North Korean parliamentary leader Kim Yong-nam said during the ceremony that Kim Jong-il led the country to secure nuclear deterrence, and the North must be unified under the leadership of Kim Jong-un.

The five-point-seven meter tall sculpture depicts Kim Jong-il and his father Kim Il-sung on horseback.