Kim Il-sung's birth date marked with jolly shows and fireworks.

PYONGYANG, April 15 (Itar-Tass) - Spectacular shows and dancing in the central square of the Korean capital will crown festive events, timed to coincide with the 98th birth date of its first and "eternal" President Kim Il-sung, marked in North Korea this Thursday.

Performances by several thousands of Koreans in national clothing will
be telecast by television. This holiday in North Korea has been called Day
of Sun for many years.
The arts festival April Spring continues in Pyongyang. Some 70 art
groups, including Koreans, living in foreign countries, show their arts on
the stages of the main concert halls of the capital.
According to Culture Minister Kang Nung Su, this festival, staged on
the initiative of present leader Kim Jong-Il, "gives a chance to Koreans
of all generations to perform songs, dedicated to the great founder of the
country".
The ongoing North Korean Film Festival is devoted to the same date.
The programme includes fine art films and documentaries, including "He was
among people all his life", "Star of Korea", "Sun of the Nation" and
others, are dedicated to achievements of North Korea under the leadership
of Kim Il-sung and present leader Kim Jong-Il.
Prior to the holiday, the Korea Publishing House put out the photo
album "Landscapes of Mt. Pektu". The mountain is the highest point in
North Korea (2,750 metres above sea level). It was there that the secret
guerrilla camp with the headquarters of the Korean People's Revolutionary
Army was located. Kim Il-sung headed the struggle against Japanese
invaders from that camp. A log cabin where Kim Jong-Il had been born, has
been also preserved there.
On Wednesday, the Korean authorities launched a breath-taking
fireworks on the bank of the Taedong River, flowing across Pyongyang. This
fabulous pyrotechnic show was called "Ideas of great leader Kim Il-sung
have been translated into life in my happy country".
-0-bur/gor