Pyongyang -- A military parade and a public procession of Pyongyang citizens for celebrating the 70th birthday of the DPRK took place with splendor in Kim Il Sung Square Sunday. Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, who is the Supreme Leader of the party, the state and the army, arrived at the square. The Supreme Leader reviewed the honour guard of the KPA services after receiving a salute from its chief. He appeared in the tribune of the square. Thunderous cheers of hurrah rent heaven and earth and fireworks of celebration were let off. He extended congratulations to all the service personnel and people on the 70th founding anniversary of the DPRK, warmly waving in return for the cheers of the participants in the parade and the procession. Taking the tribune and special seats around it were Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and vice-chairman of the CC of the WPK, Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the CC of the WPK, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, and other officials of the Party and government and leading personnel of the KPA. Present at the tribune on invitation were Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, president of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Salvador Antonio Valdes Mesa, first vice-president of the Council of State and first vice-president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Helal Al-Helal, deputy regional secretary of the Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party and Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko, chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council. Taking the special seats were heads of a congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan, a delegation of the General Association of Koreans in China and a delegation of the International United Confederation of Koreans, heads of foreign party, state and government delegations, special envoys and personages. Delegates to the celebrations for the 70th founding anniversary of the DPRK, officials of the Party, military and government organs, the Cabinet, ministries and national institutions, service personnel of the KPA and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, officials of institutions, factories and enterprises in Pyongyang, persons of merit, members of overseas Koreans' congratulatory groups and delegations, individual overseas compatriots , the chief of the Pyongyang Mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, members of foreign delegations, the diplomatic envoys, representatives of international organizations and members of military attache corps here, and foreign guests took the reserved seats. The guard of honor of all the services and the combined military band of the KPA began the opening ceremony. The chief of the General Staff of the KPA inspected the parade units. Kim Jong Un received a report from the chief of the KPA General Staff that the military parade for celebrating the 70th birthday of the DPRK would begin. Amid the solemn playing of immortal revolutionary hymns "Song of General Kim Il Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong Il", a salute of 21 guns was let off. Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, made a speech. He said that the 70-year long history of the DPRK is the one of gigantic change and great victory in which it, once a backward country, has towered as a powerful socialist country with an invincible might. Referring to the fact that under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, the DPRK has been developed into a dignified people's country which embodies the Juche-oriented idea on socialist state building and into a fortress independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in national defence, and that solid foundations have been laid for building a powerful country, the speaker emphasized that this is the most brilliant victory the Korean nation has achieved in carving out its destiny. He called upon all the people to strive for the eternal prosperity of the country and the accomplishment of the socialist cause, firmly united around Kim Jong Un. When the cars with the flags bearing the portraits of smiling President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il entered the square, escorted by generals and officers of the KPA, the honour guard of the KPA services and all the paraders paid the noblest tribute to the great leaders. The military parade started off with three columns leading the way. The first column was of the officers of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, the second of the cadets of the Central Security Officers Training Centre and the third of the 38th Guard Unit, the last two representing the service personnel who had defended the country in the post-liberation days for building a new Korea. They were followed by other units of the service personnel in the days of the Fatherland Liberation War, all holding their colours at the head of the columns--the Seoul Kim Chaek Guards 4th Infantry Division, the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Tank Division, the Guards 2nd Torpedo Flotilla and the Guards 56th Pursuit Plane Group. Also marching past were the columns of the 1st Base of the Navy Command, the air force units, the military police unit of Panmunjom, an artillery unit under the 4th Corps, the Guards 1st Hero Brigade and the unit which had been seconded to the construction of the West Sea Barrage. Next came the columns of the Hainan Dao Front Unit, a unit of pilots and workers in the munitions industry. Striding behind them were the columns of the frontline army corps, Navy units, and Air and Anti-Aircraft Force units, Strategic Force units, Special Operation forces, Worker-Peasant Red Guards and Young Red Guards. Kim Jong Un waved back to the paraders shouting "hurrah!" on their march. Planes appeared in the sky, flying in the formation depicting the number "70" symbolic of the seven decades of the DPRK. The columns of mechanized units passed the square in tune with the song "Let's Support Our Supreme Commander with Arms." The parade was wound up with the military band portraying the letters Sung Ri (Victory) and the planes spraying three-colour smoke just above the square. Then, the public procession of the Pyongyang citizens began. The column in the shape of the national flag went past the square amid the playing of the songs "The Glorious Motherland" and "Ode to the Motherland," while the civilian participants on the square depicted the letters "Celebration September 9". There was a burst of loud cheers and excited waving when the column appeared of those holding flags with the statues of PresidentKim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il in the middle. It was followed by other columns of meritorious persons, families of service personnel, agricultural workers, sportspeople, Children's Union members, workers, scientists and teachers, each holding slogan-boards and other decorations. And then, amid the playing of the songs "We Will Follow Our Party Forever" and "We'll Travel One Road Forever", the columns of those holding the flags of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK passed the square, demonstrating their resolve to follow the road of revolution to the end. When the procession ended, thunderous cheers were raised and fireworks set off. Kim Jong Un came out to the balcony of the platform and waved back to the cheering crowd. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Sees Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance "The Glorious Country" Pyongyang -- The grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance "The Glorious Country" for celebrating the 70th birthday of the DPRK was held with splendor on Sunday at the May Day Stadium. Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, saw it together with his wife Ri Sol Ju. When the Supreme Leader appeared at the platform of honor, the audience broke into enthusiastic cheers. Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, vice-chairman of the SAC and vice-chairman of the WPK Central Committee, Premier Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and vice-chairman of the SAC and other senior officials of the Party, government and army and chairmen of the Provincial Committees of the Party also took the platform. And present there on invitation were Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, Salvador Antonio Valdes Mesa, first vice-president of the Council of State and first vice-president of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, and his wife, Helal Al-Helal, deputy regional secretary of the Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party, Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko, chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council, and heads of delegations and special envoys and personages from various countries. Pu Yong Uk, head of the congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan, Choe Un Bok, head of the congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China and Kim Chil Song, head of the delegation from the International United Confederation of Koreans, were present there too. Present there on invitation were congratulatory groups of overseas Koreans, delegation members, overseas compatriots, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, members of delegations of different countries, foreign diplomatic envoys, representatives of international organizations and military attaches here and their wives and foreign guests. Delegates to the celebrations marking the 70th birthday of the DPRK, officials of the Party and power organs, ministries and national institutions, service personnel of the Korean People's Army, officials of organs, factories and enterprises and working people in Pyongyang also saw the performance. With the display of the title "The Glorious Country" reflecting the invincible might of the DPRK against the nocturnal sky, a sea of dance was unfolded. Composed of prelude "Mt Paektu aglow with Sunrise" and such chapters as "Our House under Socialism", "Road of Victory", "Stirring Times", "Reunified Land of Three Thousand-ri" and "International Friendship", the performance impressively depicts the revolutionary exploits of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il and the history of Juche Korea which has always advanced victoriously, bringing about epoch-making changes. Reflected in the elegant music and graceful rhythmic movements of the performers was their reverence for President Kim Il Sungwho built a genuine people's country, a dignified socialist state independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in national defence. The performance gave a vivid description of the time of stirring new Korea when its working people turned out in building a democratic country, the great victory in the Fatherland Liberation War and the time when the Chollima movement was under way. Amid the playing of the song "We Will Never Forget" there spread a sea of dance to depict the heroic and epic journey of Songun-based leadership Chairman Kim Jong Il made over rough mountain ranges and through wild waves. Scenes depicting the invincibility of the elite revolutionary army and the true image of the superior socialist system of the Korean style took place one after another. The performers gave a lifelike portrayal of the stirring reality of the country, where great changes are being made under the guidance of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, with music, dance, gymnastics, acrobatics, a large background, modern lighting and stage setting. The strong desire of all Koreans to write a new history of reunification in the spirit of By Our Nation Itself under the banner of the historic April 27 declaration was reflected in a shape of beautiful reunified Korea formed by performers, and the human desire for a peaceful new world was reflected in a symphony of friendship which resounded through the stadium. The performance was applauded by the audience. Expressing great satisfaction over the fact that the grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance was created in a new and special style, the Supreme Leader extended warm greetings to all the performers and spectators. National Meeting Marks 70th Founding Anniversary of DPRK Pyongyang -- A national meeting took place at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on Sunday to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the DPRK. The meeting was presided over by Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the DPRK State Affairs Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army. Seen on the platform were Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly; Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and vice-chairman of the C.C., WPK; Premier Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK. Also present at the meeting were senior Party and government officials, the chairman of a friendly party, leading officials of armed forces organs, chairmen of the provincial Party committees, army and social officials, delegates to the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the DPRK, officials of the Party Central Committee, armed forces organs, ministries and national institutions, service personnel of the Korean People's Army and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, officials of institutions and industrial establishments, labor innovators and working people in Pyongyang, members of congratulatory groups and delegations of overseas Koreans, compatriots and the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front. Invited to the meeting were foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations and military attaches here. Kim Yong Nam made a report. Upon authorization by Kim Jong Un, he warmly congratulated all the service personnel and people in the country on the occasion of the 70th birthday of the DPRK, paying tribute to the anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners, KPA soldiers and other patriotic martyrs who laid down their precious lives for the cause for achieving the freedom and independence of the country and the well-being of the people. He extended his greetings to the fellow countrymen in the south and overseas compatriots, welcoming the foreign friends attending the meeting. He said that the foundation of the DPRK by President Kim Il Sung on Sept. 9, Juche 37 (1948) was a great historic event as he successfully realized the Korean people's long-cherished desire for a genuine government of working people. He continued that with the founding of the DPRK, the Korean nation was born again as a dignified and powerful people capable of shaping its destiny by itself and that the country, once eclipsed on the world map, emerged as a fully-fledged independent and sovereign state on the international arena. He noted that over the past seven decades the DPRK has advanced dynamically towards the goal of building itself into a powerful socialist country. He underscored the fact that, by dint of their outstanding wisdom and through indefatigable guidance, President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il formulated the Juche idea as the guiding ideology for the state and developed it into an advantageous and powerful socialist country, while finding perfect solutions to all the problems arising in the construction of the state and its activities. He underlined that the DPRK boasts its history resplendent with victory as it has advanced straight ahead without making any slight mistake in formulating its lines and without experiencing any political upheaval, that it is a history of dramatic change as the country has achieved the greatest transformation under the worst-ever conditions on the strength of self-reliance and self-development, and that it can be defined as a history of creation since it has set an example in the present era for other nations to follow in building a people-centred government. Herein lies the greatness of the DPRK's 70 year-long history, he emphasized. He went on to say that in the 70-year-long course full of ups and downs, the country has consistently adhered to the principle of national independence and the idea of state-building based on love for the people, just as reflected in its national flag, adding that this is the source of pride for the state and the people. He emphasized that the DPRK has dynamically struggled for the reunification of the country under the banner of national independence and great national unity, and it has also made a positive contribution to implementing the cause of global independence, maintaining its foreign policy principles -- independence, peace and friendship. He stated that as the land of eternal Sun, the DPRK is the greatest patriotic legacy bequeathed to the coming generations by the President and the Chairman, father of the nation and peerless patriot, who had devoted all their lives to building up the country. Noting that the DPRK has greeted a golden age in building a powerful socialist country under the guidance of Supreme LeaderKim Jong Un, he said, the Supreme Leader has wisely led the Korean people to preserve the revolutionary nature of their country as a Juche-oriented socialist state and successfully realize the great leaders' patriotic desire for building a powerful country. He appealed to all the service personnel and people to death-defyingly defend the Central Committee of the Party headed byKim Jong Un and strengthen the country's most powerful weapon -- single-minded unity and politico-ideological might. He stated that the DPRK government will as ever strive hard for improvement of north-south relations and national reunification, eternal peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and building of a new just world. Similar meetings took place in all the provinces, cities and counties of the country. Art Performance and Banquet Arranged for Chinese Party and Government Delegation Pyongyang : Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, arranged an art performance and a banquet on September 10 for the party and government delegation of the People's Republic of China led by Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Standing Committee of the PRC National People's Congress, who is a special envoy of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and president of the PRC. The art performance was given at the Mansudae Art Theatre in honour of Chinese guests on their visit to the DPRK. Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju enjoyed the performance, together with Chinese guests. Among the audience were Choe Ryong Hae, Pak Kwang Ho, Ri Su Yong, Pak Thae Song, Kim Yo Jong and other officials of the WPK Central Committee and the DPRK State Affairs Commission. Invited there were Li Jinjun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and his embassy staff. Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju greeted the members of the party and government delegation of the PRC at the lobby of the art theatre. After exchanging warm greetings and posing for a photo with the Chinese guests, he had an amiable talk with them. When Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un appeared at the auditorium, followed by the Chinese guests including Li Zhanshu, the audience broke into enthusiastic cheers, extending the greatest glory and the warmest greetings of best wishes to their Supreme Leader who has performed imperishable exploits in promoting the DPRK-China friendship. Put on the stage were such colourful numbers as male solo "Fly High, Our Party Flag", orchestral music for kayagum "Arirang", female solo "I Sing of the Party", female chorus and male chorus "Along the Road of Socialism", as well as Chinese songs including female solo and male chorus "Song of Changjiang", female chorus " The Fluttering Red Flag", female quartet "May You Be in Good Health", female chorus "I Love My Chinese Nation" and female solo and pangchang "New World". The performance culminated with the finale "Korea-China Friendship Will Be Ever-lasting". The performers sang high praises of the dignity and prestige of the DPRK dynamically advancing along the road to victory of socialism under the wise leadership of the WPK. And they demonstrated the invincibility and durability of the DPRK-China friendship booming decade after decade, century after century, under the special care of the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries. A floral basket in the name of the Chinese delegation was presented to the performers as a token of congratulations for their successful performance. Kim Jong Un, together with Li Zhanshu, mounted the stage to congratulate the artistes. That evening, he hosted a banquet in honour of Li Zhanshu and his delegation. Choe Ryong Hae, upon authorization of the WPK Central Committee and the DPRK State Affairs Commission, delivered a speech to welcome the Chinese guests. Kim Jong Un had an amiable talk with Li Zhanshu and his delegation members, while the banquet was proceeding in a friendly and amicable atmosphere.