North Korea Spends Lavishly on Fireworks for Kim Il-Sung Birth Centenary [PHOTOS]

North Korea has spent lavishly on the gala celebrations of the birth centenary of its founder, Kim Il Sung.

According to local media reports, Pyongyang spent 19 billion won (£90 million) on the spectacular fireworks on Sunday's celebrations, more than three times what it had spent in 2010.

"Fireworks brightly lit up the sky in an area near the Juche Tower in Pyongyang while the 'Song of General Kim Il Sung' played in the background. Fireworks of various colours decorated the sky spectacularly," reported the state news agency KCNA.

"The fireworks this time were less ostentatious than those staged in 2010, but firework shows took place nationwide this year, not only in Pyongyang. Two hundred tons of firecrackers were imported from China, and if transportation and performance costs are counted, the expense must have added up to around US$16.7 million," Chosun.com reported, quoting a South Korean official.

North Korea has reportedly spent $850 million (£533 million) on the failed rocket launch on Friday. Millions of dollars were spent on major projects in Pyongyang such as construction of skyscrapers near the Mansudae district, remodelling the Ryukyong Hotel and installing of new gigantic statues of Kim Il Sung and his son Kim Jong Il, who died last year.

Pyongyang is estimated to have spent nearly $1.16 billion (£72.7 million) on the centenary which could have bought 3.4 million tons of corn produced in China to feed the people of the impoverished nation for four to eight years. North Korea is believed to be short of 400,000 and 800,000 tons of corn a year, according to the Chosun report.

But there were no signs of restraint in the celebrations, though the failed rocket launch was a cause of embarrassment for the new, young leader, Kim Jong Un.

A perfectly orchestrated dance and song performance took place in the Kim Il Sung Square on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, North Korea warned of retaliation after as the U.S. suspended a new aid deal after Pyongyang failed rocket launch on Friday. The deal was meant to provide much-needed food aid.

Take a look at the North Korea celebrations: