ID :
207232
Thu, 09/15/2011 - 05:27
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207232
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N. Korea Holds Military Parade Marking 63rd Founding Anniversary
NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER
SEOUL (Yonhap) - North Korea held a military parade marking the country's 63rd founding anniversary last week with its leader Kim Jong-il and his heir apparent son Kim Jong-un attending.
It is quite unusual for the country to hold a military parade, except for such important occasions as every fifth or 10th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of (North) Korea or the North Korean government.
But this year's parade was not performed by the regular North Korean forces of the army, navy and air force, but by militia or civilian defense forces.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the parade by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards was held with splendor in Pyongyang on Sept. 9 in celebration of the 63rd founding anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"Columns of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards from various provinces and complexes and those of the Young Red Guards and columns of motorized units which have been trained to be powerful civilian defense forces lined up at Kimilsung Square," according to the KCNA.
For the past week, the North's media reported the festive mood of the anniversary. Various cultural and art performances were held in Pyongyang and other cities and counties across the socialist state.
Newspapers carried articles praising the feats that the late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung performed to build the nation. TV and radio broadcasting services aired documentaries on them.
Usually, people around the country pay their respects to the nation's founder on the national holiday in various forms. Senior officials of the party and the state and armed forces organs visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the embalmed body of Kim Il-sung lies in state.
This year, Kim Jong-il and his son Kim Jong-un visited the memorial palace early in the morning of Sept. 9 before the military parade began, according to North Korean news media.
During the military parade, Kim and his youngest son, Jong-un, applauded from their reviewing stand for thousands of goose-stepping troops marching and columns of motorized units displaying multiple launch rocket systems and other military hardware, according to footage of the North's TV and KCNA.
The live footage showed that Kim, wearing his typical khaki Mao suit and sunglasses, appeared to be healthy.
But the parade by the worker-peasants was no bigger than that of last year, in terms of scale and the number of participating military units, when the country celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Workers' Party founding in October last year.
This is because this parade was held by the civilian defense forces, not by the regular military forces of the country. In the parade were mostly small weapons such as direct-firing guns, howitzers, anti-aircraft guns and multiple launch rocket systems.
The purpose of the parade was intended to consolidate the people's unity under the socialist system to achieve its hereditary power succession plan from Kim Jong-il to his youngest son Kim Jong-un.
The military parade was, according to analysts in Seoul, held to demonstrate to the world that the socialist country has stable leadership without difficulties despite the isolation from international community over its military provocations.
At the military parade, Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong-chun made a speech, saying, "If the enemy dares violate the inviolable dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK, all the people will rise up with arms in their hands and give fullest play to the might of Songun Korea."
When the parade march began, the banner bearing Kim Il-sung's portrait entered the square, escorted by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards holding red flags. To the tune of military music, columns of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards marched in fine array.
Marching past the Kims' reviewing stand, called the tribune of honor, the paraders offered an ardent salute to Kim Jong-il. At the end of the parade Kim Jong-il came out to the balcony and warmly acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of the masses, the KCNA said.
On the eve of the anniversary, a national meeting to mark the birthday of the DPRK was held in Pyongyang on Sept. 8. At the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, North Korea's premier Choe Yong-rim said the founding of the DPRK in 1948 was "a solemn declaration heralding the birth of the first people's country which opened a new history of the building of the Juche-oriented socialist state."
He recalled that Kim Jong-il formulated the songun (military-first) politics as the basic political mode under socialism and established the state leadership system with main emphasis on national defense.
Then he also emphasized economy, in an apparent sign that the country is struggling to recover from economic difficulties ahead of the country's desperate effort to become a thriving nation next year, the centennial of Kim Il-sung's birth.
"We must continue putting spurs to the light industry, a main front in the general offensive this year, and bring about great innovations in agricultural production to improve the standard of people's living as early as possible and increase the speed of the advance for a great surge to the maximum on the overall economic front including the four pilot sectors of the national economy by tapping all the existing production potential to the fullest extent."
As to the inter-Korean relations, the premier said, "We should thoroughly embody the idea of 'By our nation itself,' true to the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and the October 4 declaration and meet the blatant challenges of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad and foil their obstructive moves and bring about a new phase in the development of the north-south relations by the concerted efforts of the nation and thus accomplish the historic cause of national reunification as early as possible."
North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun on Sept. 9 editorially said the DPRK is the invulnerable socialist bulwark which demonstrates its invincible might thanks to the great Songun politics of leader Kim Jong-il. "On this basis, it could consolidate the eternal foundation for the nation's prosperity while firmly adhering to the independent stand in all fields of politics, military affairs and economy," the newspaper of the Workers' Party said.
Various cultural events were held in Pyongyang and provincial cities. The National Symphony Orchestra, the Samjiyon Band of the Mansudae Art Troupe and other art troupes in Pyongyang and local areas gave performances representing the will of the army and people to hold "the President in high esteem for all ages and dynamically advance to build a thriving socialist nation, rallied close around leader Kim Jong-il."
Dancing parties of youth and students were held in various places around the capital city. Employees of industrial establishments enjoyed the national day, playing colorful sports games and enjoying art performances. Catering networks across the country garbed in festive attire were busy attending specially to working people, according to the KCNA.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent congratulatory messages to Kim Jong-il on the founding anniversary. In a letter, Hu Jintao said the founding of the DPRK opened a chapter in the era in which the Korean people achieved independence and sovereignty and advanced for building a socialist power.
"The Sino-DPRK relations of friendship and cooperation are steadily deepening and bilateral exchange and cooperation are becoming brisk in different fields with each passing day thanks to the joint efforts of the two parties, two governments and two peoples," said Hu's message.
On the same day, Russian President Medvedev said since the birth of a new sovereign state, the two countries have been linked with each other not only by the common border but also by traditional friendly and cooperative relations. "I am recalling with warm emotion the recent meeting between us in Ulan-Ude. I assure you that Russia is interested in the joint efforts to develop the reciprocal relations with the DPRK and ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia."
On Sept. 9, The DPRK government gave a banquet at the People's Palace of Culture with the presence of senior party and state officials.
Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, said, "The army and the people of the DPRK will make a leap forward on all fronts of socialist construction full of faith and optimism and glorify 2012, the centenary of birth of the President, as the greatest revolutionary holiday of Kim Il-sung's nation and the great holiday of mankind."
SEOUL (Yonhap) - North Korea held a military parade marking the country's 63rd founding anniversary last week with its leader Kim Jong-il and his heir apparent son Kim Jong-un attending.
It is quite unusual for the country to hold a military parade, except for such important occasions as every fifth or 10th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of (North) Korea or the North Korean government.
But this year's parade was not performed by the regular North Korean forces of the army, navy and air force, but by militia or civilian defense forces.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the parade by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards was held with splendor in Pyongyang on Sept. 9 in celebration of the 63rd founding anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"Columns of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards from various provinces and complexes and those of the Young Red Guards and columns of motorized units which have been trained to be powerful civilian defense forces lined up at Kimilsung Square," according to the KCNA.
For the past week, the North's media reported the festive mood of the anniversary. Various cultural and art performances were held in Pyongyang and other cities and counties across the socialist state.
Newspapers carried articles praising the feats that the late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung performed to build the nation. TV and radio broadcasting services aired documentaries on them.
Usually, people around the country pay their respects to the nation's founder on the national holiday in various forms. Senior officials of the party and the state and armed forces organs visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the embalmed body of Kim Il-sung lies in state.
This year, Kim Jong-il and his son Kim Jong-un visited the memorial palace early in the morning of Sept. 9 before the military parade began, according to North Korean news media.
During the military parade, Kim and his youngest son, Jong-un, applauded from their reviewing stand for thousands of goose-stepping troops marching and columns of motorized units displaying multiple launch rocket systems and other military hardware, according to footage of the North's TV and KCNA.
The live footage showed that Kim, wearing his typical khaki Mao suit and sunglasses, appeared to be healthy.
But the parade by the worker-peasants was no bigger than that of last year, in terms of scale and the number of participating military units, when the country celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Workers' Party founding in October last year.
This is because this parade was held by the civilian defense forces, not by the regular military forces of the country. In the parade were mostly small weapons such as direct-firing guns, howitzers, anti-aircraft guns and multiple launch rocket systems.
The purpose of the parade was intended to consolidate the people's unity under the socialist system to achieve its hereditary power succession plan from Kim Jong-il to his youngest son Kim Jong-un.
The military parade was, according to analysts in Seoul, held to demonstrate to the world that the socialist country has stable leadership without difficulties despite the isolation from international community over its military provocations.
At the military parade, Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong-chun made a speech, saying, "If the enemy dares violate the inviolable dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK, all the people will rise up with arms in their hands and give fullest play to the might of Songun Korea."
When the parade march began, the banner bearing Kim Il-sung's portrait entered the square, escorted by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards holding red flags. To the tune of military music, columns of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards marched in fine array.
Marching past the Kims' reviewing stand, called the tribune of honor, the paraders offered an ardent salute to Kim Jong-il. At the end of the parade Kim Jong-il came out to the balcony and warmly acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of the masses, the KCNA said.
On the eve of the anniversary, a national meeting to mark the birthday of the DPRK was held in Pyongyang on Sept. 8. At the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, North Korea's premier Choe Yong-rim said the founding of the DPRK in 1948 was "a solemn declaration heralding the birth of the first people's country which opened a new history of the building of the Juche-oriented socialist state."
He recalled that Kim Jong-il formulated the songun (military-first) politics as the basic political mode under socialism and established the state leadership system with main emphasis on national defense.
Then he also emphasized economy, in an apparent sign that the country is struggling to recover from economic difficulties ahead of the country's desperate effort to become a thriving nation next year, the centennial of Kim Il-sung's birth.
"We must continue putting spurs to the light industry, a main front in the general offensive this year, and bring about great innovations in agricultural production to improve the standard of people's living as early as possible and increase the speed of the advance for a great surge to the maximum on the overall economic front including the four pilot sectors of the national economy by tapping all the existing production potential to the fullest extent."
As to the inter-Korean relations, the premier said, "We should thoroughly embody the idea of 'By our nation itself,' true to the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and the October 4 declaration and meet the blatant challenges of the anti-reunification forces at home and abroad and foil their obstructive moves and bring about a new phase in the development of the north-south relations by the concerted efforts of the nation and thus accomplish the historic cause of national reunification as early as possible."
North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun on Sept. 9 editorially said the DPRK is the invulnerable socialist bulwark which demonstrates its invincible might thanks to the great Songun politics of leader Kim Jong-il. "On this basis, it could consolidate the eternal foundation for the nation's prosperity while firmly adhering to the independent stand in all fields of politics, military affairs and economy," the newspaper of the Workers' Party said.
Various cultural events were held in Pyongyang and provincial cities. The National Symphony Orchestra, the Samjiyon Band of the Mansudae Art Troupe and other art troupes in Pyongyang and local areas gave performances representing the will of the army and people to hold "the President in high esteem for all ages and dynamically advance to build a thriving socialist nation, rallied close around leader Kim Jong-il."
Dancing parties of youth and students were held in various places around the capital city. Employees of industrial establishments enjoyed the national day, playing colorful sports games and enjoying art performances. Catering networks across the country garbed in festive attire were busy attending specially to working people, according to the KCNA.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent congratulatory messages to Kim Jong-il on the founding anniversary. In a letter, Hu Jintao said the founding of the DPRK opened a chapter in the era in which the Korean people achieved independence and sovereignty and advanced for building a socialist power.
"The Sino-DPRK relations of friendship and cooperation are steadily deepening and bilateral exchange and cooperation are becoming brisk in different fields with each passing day thanks to the joint efforts of the two parties, two governments and two peoples," said Hu's message.
On the same day, Russian President Medvedev said since the birth of a new sovereign state, the two countries have been linked with each other not only by the common border but also by traditional friendly and cooperative relations. "I am recalling with warm emotion the recent meeting between us in Ulan-Ude. I assure you that Russia is interested in the joint efforts to develop the reciprocal relations with the DPRK and ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia."
On Sept. 9, The DPRK government gave a banquet at the People's Palace of Culture with the presence of senior party and state officials.
Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, said, "The army and the people of the DPRK will make a leap forward on all fronts of socialist construction full of faith and optimism and glorify 2012, the centenary of birth of the President, as the greatest revolutionary holiday of Kim Il-sung's nation and the great holiday of mankind."
