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Grand Military Parade Held on Army Day

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

   Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) -- A grand military parade of units of the three services of the Korean People's Army, the Korean People's Security Forces, the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards was held at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Wednesday to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the KPA.
    Seen in the square was a portrait of President Kim Il Sung, the father of socialist Korea, the founder of the army and an ever-victorious iron-willed commander.
    Large balloons were floating in the air above the square and slogans were displayed on the walls of the buildings surrounding it and flags of the KPA supreme commander, the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK seen hanging.
    Columns of paraders lined up in the square.
    The flags of the DPRK and the KPA supreme commander were hoisted amidst the playing of the national anthem.
    General Secretary Kim Jong Il mounted the tribune of honor of the square.
    It was also taken by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Jo Myong Rok, first vice-chairman of the NDC and director of the KPA General Political Department, Kim Yong Il, premier of the Cabinet, Kim Kyok Sik, chief of the KPA General Staff, Kim Yong Chun and Ri Yong Mu, vice-chairmen of the NDC, Kim Il Chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces, Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the SPA Presidium, Choe Yong Rim, secretary general of the SPA Presidium, and Jon Pyong Ho, Choe Thae Bok, Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Jung Rin and Kim Ki Nam, secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, Kwak Pom Gi and Ro Tu Chol, vice-premiers, Kim Yong Dae, chairman of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party, Ryu Mi Yong, chairwoman of the C.C., the Korean Chondoist Chongu Party, staff members of the KPA Supreme Command, commanders of the KPA services and arms, leading officials of party and armed forces organs and working people's organizations.
    The reviewing stands were taken by officials of party and power organs, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, KPA servicepersons, officials in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health and media, heroes, those related to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, members of bereaved families of revolutionary martyrs, persons of distinguished services, working people in Pyongyang, the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, and members of overseas compatriots' delegations from various regions including a delegation of Koreans in Japan.
    Present there on invitation were diplomatic envoys of foreign countries and representatives of international organizations here, members of the military attaches corps and foreign guests.
    The chief of the General Staff reported to Kim Jong Il that all was ready to begin the military parade.
    KPA General Kim Kyok Sik, chief of the KPA General Staff, in a speech said that Kim Il Sung opened a new history of the Songun revolutionary leadership by founding a revolutionary army and defeated the two ferocious and formidable imperialist enemies and led the Korean people's struggle for sovereignty, independence and socialism to victory with the army as a main force.
    It was thanks to the supreme commander's outstanding and tested Songun revolutionary leadership that the KPA has been able to firmly defend the ideology, system and cause of the DPRK and creditably discharge its mission and duty as a pillar of revolution and a vanguard force for the prosperity of the country, winning one victory after another in the confrontation with the U.S. and in the struggle to defend socialism, he said.
    Should the U.S. imperialists infringe even a bit upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and its right to existence the KPA will wipe them out at a single stroke and accomplish the historic cause of national reunification, the cherished desire of the nation, without fail, he said, warning the Japanese reactionaries and other forces supporting the U.S. imperialists in their anti-DPRK moves not to run amuck, clearly understanding the militant might and heroic stamina of the KPA.
    A bugle call announcing the start of the parade was followed by the entry into the square of a limousine carrying a banner bearing the portrait of Kim Il Sung escorted by the KPA colors.
    All the paraders paid deep respects to the President, looking up at the banner.
    A column of Kim Il Sung Military University marched past the tribune of honor in fine array to the tune of the military music to be followed by columns of KPA military academies at all levels including Kim Il Sung Political University and Kang Kon General Military Academy, those of the KPA three services including the Guard Kang Kon Infantry Division No. 2, the Guard Seoul Infantry Division No. 3, the Guard Seoul Kim Chaek Infantry Division No. 4, the Guard Naval Squadron No. 2 and those of the Korean People's Security Forces.
    Columns of such revolutionary militias as the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards, and columns of revolutionary schools also marched past the tribune of honor.
    Kim Jong Il acknowledged every parading unit when it marched past.
    Columns of rocket units of the KPA also went past.
    At the end of the parade Kim Jong Il went out to the balcony of the tribune of honor and waved back to the enthusiastically cheering crowds.
    Pyongyang citizens warmly welcomed the participants in the successful parade on the streets of the city.