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Grand Festival for National Reunification Closes

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

    Pyongyang, June 17 (KCNA) -- The grand festival for national reunification marking the fifth anniversary of the historic June 15 joint declaration opened here on June 14 with splendor closed on June 16. The festival reinforced the conviction that the Korean nation with a five thousand-year long history and brilliant culture can no longer live separated and there is a bright prospect of national reunification only when the Koreans uphold and implement the noble idea of "By our nation itself".
    A closing ceremony took place at the Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium on the bank of the River Pothong.
    Present there were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, delegations of authorities of the north and the south respectively led by Kim Ki Nam, vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, and Jong Tong Yong, minister of Unification of south Korea, delegations and representatives of the north, south and overseas sides and the delegation of Hyundai Asan that participated in the festival.
    Ri Yong Duk, co-representative of the labour headquarters of the south side's preparatory committee, said in a speech that through the grand festival for national reunification the south and the north took a giant stride forward in strengthening the June 15 joint committee, adding it would lead to a grand march of the 70 million Koreans for peace on the Korean peninsula and the great unity of the nation.
    Yang Yong Dong, honorary chairman of the overseas side's preparatory committee, in his speech called for making the desire of the nation for reunification that surged high with the festival as a momentum result in the grand chorus of the 70 million Koreans, adding this would lead to patriotism and national prosperity.
    Kang Chang Uk, vice-chairman of the north side's preparatory committee, in a speech said: We will consolidate the success of the festival to strenuously conduct the movement for reunification till November on which will fall the centenary of the fabrication of the "Ulsa Five-point Treaty" to glorify this year which marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the country as a meaningful year of a turning point in the movement for national reunification.
    The festival is going to close, but the ardent desire of all of us present for reunification and patriotism will always remain strong, he noted, calling for making a more dynamic advance towards reunification, not forgetting the warm kindred feelings they shared during the festival.
    Paek Rak Chong, chairman of the south side's preparatory committee, in his closing address expressed thanks to the representatives of the south, north and overseas sides, those concerned with the festival and citizens of Pyongyang for the enormous efforts exerted for the success of the festival.
    He declared the festival closed after calling on all the 70 million Koreans to work hard to lead this successful holding of the festival to the dynamic trend towards national reconciliation and cooperation, peace and reunification. A large Korean Peninsula flag was slowly lowered amidst the playing of song "May the Korean Peninsula Flag Flutter".
    Before the closing ceremony there was a ceremony of awarding certificates of assistance to the organizations and representatives of the north, the south and overseas sides who have contributed to making the festival successful.