50th Anniversary of DPRK (9-9-1998)

Military Parade and Mass Demonstration on 50th Anniversary of DPRK

(The People's Korea, 1998)

Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- A military parade and a mass demonstration took place splendidly at Kim Il Sung Square today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Put up at the square were a portrait of the great leader president Kim Il Sung and boards of slogans reading "Long Live the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung" and "Long Live the Glorious Workers' Party of Korea", with a large flag of the party and the DPRK hanging. Floating above were big balloons carrying slogans "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung will Always Be with Us", "Highest Glory to the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il" and "Victory and Glory to the Heroic Korean People's Army Officers and Men". A flag of the DPRK and a flag of the Korean People's Army Supreme Commander were hoisted amid the playing of the national anthem. 

The great leader Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission and KPA Supreme Commander, appeared on the platform while the welcome music was played. The moment, thunderous cheers "hurrah" burst out, rocking the square and thousands of toy balloons were sent up. A child presented a bunch of fragrant flowers to Kim Jong Il. The platform was also occupied by Kim Yong Nam, Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol, Kim Yong Ju, Jon Mun Sop, Jo Myong Rok, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Il Chol, Ri Ul Sol, Hong Song Nam and other senior party and state officials, anti- Japanese revolutionary fighters, commanders of the KPA arms and services, chief secretaries of the provincial party committees, KPA general officers and other cadres.

The platform was taken by So Man Sul, First Vice- Chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.

Taking the reviewing stands were members and alternate members of the WPK Central Committee, deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly, officials of party and government bodies, administrative and economic organs and public organizations, representatives of scientific, educational, cultural and art circles, KPA officers and men, men of meritorious services from across the country, bereaved families of the revolutionary martyrs, and citizens.

Seen at the stands were a delegation of the National Democratic Front of south Korea, overseas compatriots' congratulatory groups and delegations from different regions of the world, and individual overseas Koreans, who are staying here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.

The stands were also occupied by foreign diplomatic envoys here and embassy officials, delegations and delegates of Juche idea study organizations from different countries and other foreign visitors.

21-gun salutes were fired amid the playing of the immortal revolutionary hymn "song of General Kim Il Sung".

Kim Yong Chun, chief of the general staff of the KPA, made a congratulatory address in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. He said that the military parade and mass demonstration marking the 50th anniversary of the DPRK at the significant time of having reelected Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, would demonstrate the unshakable faith and will of the army and the people to glorify president Kim Il Sung's enduring feats in state building, show the great revolutionary traits of our society rallied as one and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche under the guidance of the party. He further said: By the devoted efforts of the servicemen and the people, president Kim Il Sung's behests will be successfully carried through and a more prosperous and better, powerful state of Juche will be built wonderfully in this land in the near future.

The KPA will devotedly defend the headquarters of revolution headed by Kim Jong Il in the spirit of human bombs and suicide bombing. If the enemies encroach upon an inch of our land, waters and sky, the People's Army will mercilessly annihilate them and give a thousand-fold death to the invaders and thus defend the party and socialism and reunify the country.

After the address, KPA colonel general Kim Jong Gak, the general commander of the military paraders, gave to chief of the general staff Kim Yong Chun a report that the units were ready for military parade. The chief of the general staff and the general commander passed through the units, warmly congratulating them on the 50th anniversary of the DPRK.

Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il raised his hand to acknowledge Kim Yong Chun's report that the military parade will start. The entire paraders raised cheers of "hurrah" and shouted "Kim Jong Il", "devoted defense" and "national reunification". When the start of the military parade was declared, a flag carrying a portrait of president Kim Il Sung entered the square, escorted by standards of the KPA three services. The paraders expressed deep respects at the "present arms."

Planes carrying banners of portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, flew over the square, escorted by guard planes.

Marching past in fine array were columns of KPA military academies at all levels including Kim Il Sung Military University, Kim Il Sung Political University and Kang Kon General Military Academy, columns of KPA units including guard units and columns of the revolutionary schools.

They were followed by columns of the worker-peasant red guards and the young red guards.

Planes carrying slogan "let us defend the headquarters of revolution headed by the great comrade Kim Jong Il at the cost of lives" flew over the capital.

Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il acknowledged the salute of the paraders who marched past the platform.

After the military parade, a grand mass demonstration started.

Entering the square were ranks of those carrying national flags and cheering crowd with a statue of president Kim Il Sung in the van. Ranks of heroes and war veterans, ranks of happy dancers, ranks of dancing schoolchildren, ranks of families, ranks of those carrying party flags, three-revolution red flags, torches and red flags went past the platform, shouting "hurrah". Waves of beautiful flowers rolled out and cheers burst out at the square at the end of the demonstration. At the balcony of the platform Kim Jong Il raised his hand to acknowledge the enthusiastically cheering crowds. 

Korean People Celebrate DPRK's Half-Centennial Birthday, entering New Era of Kim Jong Il

(The People's Korea, 1998)

The Korean people celebrated on Sep. 9 the golden jubilee of the DPRK, the world's first country which defeated the Americans and their allies in the wake of their victories over Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The country's 50th birthday celebrations held nationwide, including a grand parade, a gigantic gymnastic display, an evening gala, congratulatory meetings at each unit concerned and art performances, served as a clear reminder of the strong unity and high morale of the people behind Marshal Kim Jong Il, despite the current temporary economic difficulties they suffered. On the occasion of the golden jubilee of the DPRK, foreign state leaders and parties, including Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Boris Yeltsin, hailed the brilliant successes the DPRK achieved in the construction of the country and vowed to maintain their friendly relations with the DPRK. 

Evening Gala and Torchlight Procession of Pyongyang Youth and Students

(The People's Korea, 1998)

PYONGYANG, September 9 (KCNA) An evening gala of youth and students and a torchlight procession of 100,000 people in Pyongyang took place at Kim Il Sung Square on Sept. 9, the 50th anniversary of the DPRK. A portrait of the great leader President Kim Il Sung was placed at the square.

Floating in the sky above the square were large balloons from which hung streamers with letters "long live the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung" "long live the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il" "singlehearted unity" and "devoted defense." Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, appeared on the platform of the square. Occupying the platform were Kim Yong Nam, Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol, Kim Yong Ju, Jon Mun Sop, Jo Myong Rok, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Il Chol, Ri Ul Sol, Hong Song Nam and other senior party and state officials, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, commanders of the services and arms and generals of the KPA and leading officials of party and power bodies and working people's organizations. When the song "long live generalissimo Kim Il Sung" was played the youth and students began to dance at the square, which was brilliantly illumined. They joyously danced to the tune of songs "our happiness is thanks to the leader," "my country is best," "let's defend socialism" and "Marshal Kim Jong Il, our father." The evening gala went into high gear as young men and women gave a music and dance performance full of conviction and optimism. Then came a torchlight procession. Amid the playing of "Song of Proclamation of the People's Republic" the torchlight processions advanced with open cars carrying flags bearing portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at the van. Anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, heroes of the republic and war veterans who are the first and second generations of the revolution were followed by columns of young men and women of the rising generation who are heirs to the revolution. They advanced with their torchlights spelling out letters "Kim Il Sung," "Kim Jong Il," "Singlehearted Unity," "Strong Army," "Powerful State" and "Devoted Defense." Columns of flags of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK and red flags passed and loud cheers were raised among them.