Groups of North Koreans enjoyed a picnic on a hilltop park overlooking Pyongyang on Wednesday, a national holiday celebrating the birthday period of the late leader Kim Il Sung.

Ng Han Guan / AP

A man lights a cigarette for a friend during a picnic in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 18, 2012.

David Guttenfelder / AP

Ng Han Guan / AP

Vincent Yu / AP

See more striking pictures from North Korea in PhotoBlog and in the slideshow below.

Slideshow: North Korea continues celebrations

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Pyongyang refuses to let failed rocket launch dampen tone of festivities.

Launch slideshow