National defence strengthening is priority for WPK-official

PYONGYANG, April 11 (Itar-Tass) - The main task of the Workers' Party
of Korea (WPK) "remains strengthening of the national defence, which is an
essential condition for building a prosperous state," member of the
Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, the Chief
of General Staff of the Korean People's Army, Vice-Marshal Ri Yong-Ho said
on Monday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
He spoke at a meeting here to mark the 18th anniversary of Kim Jong Il'
s election as Chairman of the National Defence Commission, which was
attended by the entire leadership of the DPRK. According to him, the army
and the people of the DPRK "are not going to stand idly by as the US
imperialists and South Korean puppets are conducting aggressive military
manoeuvres." The People's Korea, Ri Yong-Ho stressed, "will derail their
provocative plans by the power of the Songun politics" (military-oriented
policy of the DPRK leadership). He also called for "strengthening unity
and confident advancement on the path of victory shown by Kim Jong Il."
DPRK's leading newspaper Rodong Sinmun published an article saying
that that the election of Kim Jong Il as chairman of the National Defence
Commission "became for the Korean people a reliable guarantee of happiness
and prosperity."
North Korea's youth over the weekend marked this important for the
country event by massive dance parties. The art propaganda team of the
Central Committee of the Socialist Youth League of the DPRK arranged a
concert in Pyongyang, which began with the song named "Glory to General
Kim Jong Il."
According to KCNA, the venues of the dancing parties in Pyongyang,
including plazas of the Party Founding Memorial Tower, the April 25 House
of Culture and the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, were crowded with youth and
students. The dancing places were replete with deep reverence of youth and
students for Kim Jong Il who raised the position of the DPRK to the
highest level and is ushering in a new era of prosperity with his great
Songun politics.
The parties began amid the playing of the song "Please Receive Best
Wishes of People." They danced to the tune of such songs as "Let's Sing of
General Dear to People," "Twelve Months for Songun Victory," "Let Us
Become the General's Soldiers" and "Let Us Meet at the Front." Similar
dancing parties took place in Phyongsong of South Phyongan Province,
Sariwon of North Hwanghae Province, Kanggye of Jagang Province and other
provincial seats and cities and counties.
The KCNA reported that an art performance took place at plaza of the
Pyongyang Indoor Stadium Saturday to celebrate the 18th anniversary of
leader Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the National Defence
Commission of the DPRK. It was given by the art squad of the Central
Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League. The numbers of the
art performance which began with narration and chorus "Glory to General
Kim Jong Il" included "Sound of Footsteps of the General" and "Ongheya of
Victory of Songun."
The performers praised the undying revolutionary feats of Kim Jong Il
who was making a long journey of forced march for the country and people
and demonstrated a firm faith and will of the young Songun vanguard to
fully display their wisdom and courage in defending the country and
building a thriving socialist nation.