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Military Parade and Mammoth Demonstration Held

KCNA

Release Date: 9/10/2003

Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- A military parade and a mammoth demonstration took place at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on September 9 with splendor in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Seen on the square was a portrait of President Kim Il Sung.

Floating in the sky above the square were large balloons from which were suspended "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung Will Always Be with Us", "Highest Glory to the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il", "Long Live the 55th Anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea!" and other slogans.

At 10 a.m. Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, mounted the tribune of honor amid the playing of the welcome music.

The moment thunderous cheers of "Hurrah!" shook the square and thousands of balloons soared into the sky.

The tribune of honor was taken by senior officials of the Party, the state and the army including Kim Yong Nam, Jo Myong Rok, Pak Song Chol, Kim Yong Ju, Pak Pong Ju, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Il Chol, Yon Hyong Muk, Ri Yong Mu and Jon Pyong Ho.

Seen on the rostrum were So Man Sul, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, Konstantin Borisovich Pulikovski, presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Region of the Russian Federation, and Bukenya Gilbert Balibaseka, vice-president of Uganda.

The reviewing stands were taken by members of the Cabinet, deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly and others, delegations and delegates of different countries, overseas Koreans, representatives of international organizations, diplomatic envoys and military attaches of foreign embassies here and foreign guests.

Amid the playing of "Song of General Kim Il Sung", a 21-gun salute was fired.

Chief of the General Staff of the KPA Kim Yong Chun made a speech.

The chief of the KPA General Staff and the chief commander of the parade reviewed its units to congratulate the paraders on the 55th anniversary of the DPRK.

The chief of the KPA General Staff made a report to Kim Jong Il on starting the military parade in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the DPRK.

He raised his hand in acknowledgement of it.

After the bugle call sounded to signal the start of the parade a flag bearing the portrait of President Kim Il Sung entered the square, escorted by colours of the KPA, amid the playing of the song "The Leader Will Always Be with Us."

All the paraders presented arms, looking up at the flag bearing the portrait of the President in token of highest tribute to him.

Marching past the tribune of honour were columns of Kim Il Sung Military University, Kim Il Sung Political University, Kang Kon Military Academy and other military academies of the KPA, columns of KPA units including Guard Seoul Third Infantry Division and Guard Second Naval Flotilla that made matchless military merits in the Fatherland Liberation War and those of revolutionary schools.

Kim Jong acknowledged every unit when it marched past.

The parade was followed by a mammoth demonstration.

Demonstrators holing flags of the KPA supreme commander, ranks of heroes and heroines and men of merits, ranks of three color dancers, red flag dancers, medium-drum dancers, ranks of school youth and children, happy dancers, etc. marched past with huge floats, picture-boards and slogans moving ahead. They represented on a grand epic canvas the immortal feats performed by the President in building on this land a great prosperous powerful socialist country, independent, self-supporting and self-reliant in national defence.

The demonstrators marched past the tribune of honor, raising thunderous cheers and wavering bunches of flowers.

At the end of the demonstration, the welcome music was played, the cheers of "Hurrah!" burst firth again and thousands of balloons soared into the sky.

Kim Jong Il moved to the balcony of the tribune of honor and waved to the enthusiastically cheering crowd.