Kim Jong-Il present at maiden show of opera after old China legend

PYONGYANG, October 19 (Itar-Tass) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il
was present at the maiden show of an opera, staged after motives of an
ancient Chinese legend, the KCNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
General secretary of the Korean Workers' Party and chairman of the
State Defence Committee thanked authors of the opera for "a wonderful
production".
Kim also stressed that the success, scored by the Pibada opera group
"has become graphic evidence of inexhaustible spiritual force of
revolutionary Korean actors". He also praised students of the Pyongyang
Conservatory who participated in the show.
In Kim's words, the Pibada art group staged this opera "with
assistance from Chinese comrades, while the two countries mark the 60th
anniversary of joining the Korean War by Chinese volunteers". The supreme
leader of People's Korea noted that the Korean Workers' Party and North
Korea people "favour further development of friendship relations that
developed with China, while the cultural exchange plays an important role
in deepening mutual relations between the two countries".
Along with Kim, the maiden show was attended by members of the
politburo and the secretariat of the central committee of the Korean
Workers' Party and other officials.
Earlier, the North Korean leader directed an opera production after the classic Chinese novel "Dream at red tower-room".
This production drew great attention of the Chinese public during guest performances of the Pibada group in China, that lasted between May 7 and July 18.
North Korean actors showed it in Beijing and 11 more Chinese cities.
Following successful completion of performances in China, Pyongyang greeted the Pibada group as national heroes.