SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has been preparing for a large military parade for this spring since before the death of its former leader Kim Jong-il, a government official here said Monday.

"North Korea has been practicing a military parade, with troops and equipment on hand, at the Mirim Airbase near Pyongyang," the official said. "This began before the death of Kim Jong-il last year (in December)."

   The official added the North's military may be targeting the 100th birthday of the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, on April 15, or the 80th founding anniversary of the military on April 25.