Military Parade Marks 90th Anniversary of KPRA

  

Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- All the civilians and service personnel in the DPRK, who have striven to fulfill the dreams and ideals of a powerful nation and accomplish the great cause of building a prosperous country with strong army under the guidance of the great Workers' Party of Korea injecting eternal lifeblood into the Juche revolution pioneered in Mt Paektu, are significantly commemorating the auspicious day of significance in the nation's history when their revolutionary armed forces took roots, full of boundless pride and confidence.

A grand military parade to be specially recorded in the country’s history was held at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital city of Pyongyang on April 25, the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA), the first revolutionary armed forces of Juche type.

The square, the venue for demonstrating to the world the proud history and invincible might of our revolutionary armed forces which have emerged victorious, carrying forward the great idea and spirit and the precious exploits and traditions, with their origin in Mt Paektu associated with the 5 000 years-long-cherished desire, was brightened by a great number of spotlights.

The military parade began with a magnificent demonstration of skills by our dependable paratroopers who landed on the square, fluttering a large national flag.

The State Merited Chorus in charge of playing music for the parade entered the square.

And the combined military band entered the square, playing military music and changing formations to portray two pistols showing the origin of our revolutionary armed forces, the numbers "4.25.", "90", etc. the emblem of the Party and the letters "Ongwi" (safeguard) at the square.

April 25, Juche 21 (1932) was the day when the dawn of national liberation was brought to the Korean people who had been deprived of even their language and names for having no army guarding the territory of their nation.

President Kim Il Sung, the legendary hero of the anti-Japanese war, founded the KPRA on that day.

The ceremonial performance of the combined military band revved up the celebration atmosphere with lively melodies and powerful rhythmic movements showing that the glorious history of a-match-for-a-hundred revolutionary army, which has emerged victorious in the confrontation with the most outrageous and formidable imperialist enemies over 90 years, and the traditions of the army strong with its idea and faith, rare to be seen in other parts of the world, the revolutionary army of the Party, began from that day.

Parade columns of the powerful elite army proudly entered the square to the tune of the grand parade orchestral music for victory, demonstrating the might of the DPRK dashing ahead like the wind in the face of manifold difficulties.

The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK have accumulated the absolute power never to be overlooked by the world.

The paraders were filled with the pride of defending the security of the great Party, the great country and the great people.

Columns of cutting-edge military hardware were on standby on the avenues to the square. They showed well the appearance of the armed forces of the DPRK that have dramatically developed from the first armed group of Koreans who declared death-defying resistance against aggressors with only 100-odd rifles on the day 90 years ago.

Air squadrons of the Air Force impregnably defending the airspace of the country with a sacred mission of safeguarding the Party and the revolution were waiting for their sorties.

All the paraders were looking up to the tribune of the square with great honor and excitement as they were to be reviewed by Kim Jong Un, the outstanding leader of the Juche revolution, symbol of the mightiness of our Party and state and the representative of the great dignity.

When Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, arrived at the square together with his wife Ri Sol Ju, a solemn ceremony of receiving him was held by the honor guard of the Korean People's Army (KPA).

After   receiving   a   salute   from    the    chief    of    the    honor guard, Kim Jong Un reviewed the honor guard and the glorious colors of the large combined units.

The outstanding supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK who is an ever-victorious iron-willed brilliant commander was greeted by senior officials of the Ministry of National Defence and commanders of the large combined units and combined units of the KPA.

Army commanders paid their highest respects carrying their deep gratitude to Kim Jong Un who made sure that our revolutionary armed forces, the pivot of the national defence capabilities and the strong fortress for safeguarding the revolution and the country, demonstrated their military and political might through a significant parade on their founding day.

Amid the   playing   of   the   welcome   music,   the   respected Comrade     Kim Jong Un, together with his wife Ri Sol Ju, took the tribune of the square.

At that moment, the cheers of "Hurrah!" and chants of "Kim Jong Un" and "Kyolsaongwi" (devoted defence) rocked the square.

He waved back to the enthusiastically cheering paraders and spectators.

Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju were presented with bunches of flowers by members of the Children's Union.

Taking the tribune were Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Ri Pyong Chol, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, and Ri Yong Gil, Kwon Yong Jin, Rim Kwang Il and other senior officials of the armed forces organs, commanders and political commissars of the large combined units and commanders of the combined units.

Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Jo Yong Won, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary for Organizational Affairs of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, took the reserved seats for VIPs.

The tribune was taken by Ri Il Hwan, Jong Sang Hak, O Su Yong, Thae Hyong Chol, Kim Jae Ryong, Kim Yong Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Pak Jong Gun, O Il Jong, Ho Chol Man, Pak Thae Dok, Kim Hyong Sik, Yu Jin, Pak Myong Sun, Ri Chol Man, Kim Song Nam, Jon Hyon Chol, Ju Chol Gyu, Ri Son Gwon, Ri Thae Sop, U Sang Chol, Kim Yong Hwan and other senior Party and government officials.

Present on invitation were Ri Myong Su, Thae Jong Su, Choe Yong Rim, Kim Kyong Ok and other veterans who had worked for a long time in the Party, the government and the military.

Taking the reserved seats were the participants in the celebrations of the 90th founding anniversary of the KPRA.

There was a solemn ceremony of hoisting a national flag.

A column of women depicting a five-pointed star, an emblem which was shown on the anti-Japanese guerrillas' caps, entered the square to the tune of the song "Our National Flag".

Drones depicted a large national flag.

When the column arrived at the middle of the square, members of the KPA honor guard emerged from it and marched towards the flagstaff with a spread national flag.

Amid the chorus of the national anthem of the DPRK, the national flag reflecting the invincible might of our country and all the miracles, victory and the bright future of the people was hoisted.

This flag was hoisted in the sky of new Korea for the first time after President Kim Il Sung liberated the country through hard-fought anti- Japanese    war.     It     is     the     flag     of     socialist     Korea Chairman       Kim Jong Il defended, overcoming the tempests of history, and the flag of our dignified powerful country which has grown stronger, performing the world-startling miracles and changes under the distinguished leadership of Kim Jong Un.

With their hearts burning with the strong will to proudly fly the flag symbolizing the soul and stamina of Mt Paektu and the destiny of the people and to warmly love and add luster forever to most valuable our- style socialism, the genuine people's country, all the participants solemnly looked up to the national flag.

Fireworks were displayed in the sky where the DPRK flag was fluttering. And a salute of 21 guns was boomed amid the playing of the song "The Glorious Country".

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a celebration speech.

Referring to the profound and great significance of the birth of the first genuine armed forces of Korea 90 years ago in the history of our revolution and the nation and in the future development of our state and people, he said that the arms of revolution held by fine sons and daughters of the Korean people in the forest of Mt Paektu was an expression of the ever- growing Korean nation's spirit of independence, hope and the banner of great unity and the motive force that provided the Koreans with the spirit of self-respect and invincible strength.

He stressed that as long as the hearts of all the officers and men of the DPRK armed forces are pulsating with the thick blood and precious soul of the revolutionary forerunners and the revolutionary armed forces always stand in the van of the revolution as the paragons of the idea and will of the Workers' Party of Korea and the power of our state and people, our socialist cause will always emerge victorious in the future, too. He ardently called for vigorously struggling for the wellbeing and happiness of our great people and the eternal glory and victory of our great state.

Hearing his touching speech, all the participants burst into stormy cheers with high national pride of having the peerlessly brilliant commander and the high glory of having the revolutionary armed forces which have devotedly preserved the lineage of the Korean revolution and the idea and cause of the WPK and reliably guaranteed the existence and development of our state and the happiness of the people.

Then, preparations for the parade were reviewed

Vice Marshal of the KPA Ri Yong Gil, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, made a report to KPA Marshal Pak Jong Chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, that parade units were ready to be reviewed.

Pak Jong Chon reviewed the parade units.

He courteously reported to the General Secretary of the WPK that the military parade for marking the 90th founding anniversary of the KPRA was ready to start.

The columns of the armed forces of the DPRK, which were founded in the flames of the anti-Japanese war and have strengthened into a matchless elite army and a revolutionary army of the Party, recording only victory and glory in its history, began marching.

The column of honorary cavalrymen entered the square.

Honorary cavalrymen, reminding the spectators of the spirit and mettle of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army which used to appear in the east and in the west at the same time to confuse and annihilate the enemy under the guidance of General Kim Il Sung who commanded the anti- Japanese guerilla army on a white horse, rode past the square.

A column of soldiers representing the period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle, when the first generation of our revolutionary armed forces set a shining example of devotedly protecting the leader for the first time in history and established the traditions of winning victory with idea and faith, marched past the square with a red flag fluttering.

Then a column of soldiers representing the period of the Fatherland Liberation War proudly marched with dignity under the colors associated with the immortal feats of the heroic soldiers in the 1950s who performed a unprecedented military miracle by defeating with rifles the enemy armed with atomic bombs, carrying forward the great traditions of victory in the anti-Japanese revolutionary war that witnessed the defeat of the gangster- like Japanese imperialists' one-million strong army which regarded the KPRA as "a drop in the ocean".

Columns of marchers passed the square one after another, reminding the spectators of the great years when the soldiers of the KPA achieved miraculous victories, unheard-of in the world war history, in ground, air and sea battles of the 3-year-long hard-fought war against the barbaric aggression by the U.S. imperialists.

Columns of soldiers under the Guard Office of the Party Central Committee and the Guard Department of the State Affairs Commission standing guard over the supreme staff of the Korean revolution vigorously marched past the square, vividly representing the revolutionary character of the armed forces of the Republic and the eternal mission of the nation.

The columns of soldiers under the Guard Department and the Guard Command showcased their will to become the very bodyguards and bulletproof wall that devotedly defend the Party Central Committee true to the noble spirit of the bodyguards of the anti-Japanese guerilla army who devotedly defended the headquarters of revolution.

The column of the First Corps, the strongest corps of the People's Army called the corps of tigers in Mt Paektu defending the eastern sector of the front, marched past the square fluttering the colors of elite divisions whose mere names strike fear into the enemies.

The columns of the Second and Fourth Corps, the frontline corps in the west and the units that gave birth to the spirit of match-for-a-hundred combatants, marched in a fine array under the colors of divisions and brigades that smashed every reckless military provocation of the enemies through telling blows.

The column of the Fifth Corps in charge of the central sector of the front fully represented the spirit of the frontline service personnel to annihilate the enemy, performing military exploits while standing guard over the outpost of the country and the revolution like the guardsmen who made their way through the flames of war.

Marching with gallantry to the tune of song of the revolutionary army were navy and air force columns holding aloft the colors of the naval fleets, hailed as the death-defying corps of the sea and the unsinkable battleship, and of the air force divisions displaying their might as the shields in the sky and the red goshawks.

Following the energetically marching missile maintenance crewmembers of the strategic force column, the symbol of the irresistible might of the DPRK armed forces, the special operations force column, always ready to deal crushing blows to the enemy in any operation space of land, sea or air when the time for a decisive battle comes, entered the square.

Kim Jong Un extended a warm military salute to the service personnel in major thrusts, the core unit which acts as the backbone of the revolutionary armed forces and firmly defends the very forefront of national defence.

The parade members chanted "Hurrah!" for the iron-willed commander, who ushers in a great golden age of bolstering military muscle of the country while strengthening the People's Army remarkably into invincible revolutionary vanguard ranks braving difficulties with the spirit of Mt Paektu, a revolutionary army of the Party modeled on the WPK and ultra-modern forces, holding high the banner of modeling the whole army on Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism.

Columns of the Anti-aircraft Artillery Corps, the 91st Corps and the 3rd Corps of the KPA impregnably defending Pyongyang, the heart of the Korean revolution where the Party Central Committee is situated were followed by the columns of other corps defending the east and west coastal areas, the northern areas and border gateways.

Then columns of tanks and armored vehicle divisions and motorized infantry divisions including the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Tank Division and the 425th Motorized Infantry Division of the KPA, powerful strike groups that are prepared to immediately secure any strategic areas indicated by the Supreme Headquarters, marched proudly under the uplifted sacred colors bearing the letters "April 25", displaying the might of the invincible revolutionary Paektusan army that stoutly preserves the glorious traditions of the anti-Japanese war.

Marching past the tribune of the square were columns of scouts and mountain infantry      known          as       versatile       and               brave  fighters,                  those  of specialists'                              units such    as       the                electronic     harassment operations    unit, columns of                         Kim Il Sung Military University which is the highest seat of military education guaranteeing the eternal might and invincibility of our revolutionary armed forces, Kim Jong Il University of Military and Politics which is a centre for training the highest-ranking military commanding officers in the country, Kim Il Sung University of Politics which greatly contributes to making the KPA politically, ideologically and morally stronger, and Kim          Jong Un University of National Defence        which makes                     a distinguished contribution to training of persons talented in the Juche- based defence science and technology, and columns of military schools at all levels.

The marchers were full of the steadfast resolution to readily die a heroic death for the good of the great commander who gives ever-lasting life with warm feeling, passion, love and trust and teaches strategy of victory and exceptional bravery.

The cheers, burst out by the backbone of the elite army, brave soldiers of the powerful country greatly moved to have the high honor of being reviewed by Marshal Kim Jong Un, the illustrious commander, rocked the square.

Columns of students at revolutionary schools who have prepared themselves as pillars of the Juche revolution while reliably succeeding to the lineage of Mangyongdae, the lineage of Paektu at the educational seats for the sons and daughters of revolutionary martyrs associated with the idea of continuous revolution and love for the younger generation and future of the WPK went past to the tune of a march.

A column of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, which have strengthened into reliable armed forces for safeguarding the socialist country and defending hometowns by inheriting the tradition of all-people resistance created during the anti-Japanese war, marched through the square, carrying the flags of provincial worker-peasant red guards with the chief secretary of the Pyongyang City Party Committee as its head and the chief secretaries of provincial Party committees in the van.

A column of the Ministry of State Security which has demonstrated its might as a dependable political security force of the Party reliably protecting the precious gains of the socialist country and the people's wellbeing and as an elite unit playing a part of the revolutionary armed forces, columns of the traffic security women, the tracker dog search party and the special mobile corps of the Public Security Forces and a column of emergency epidemic prevention workers passed the square.

Kim Jong Un raised his hands to encourage the marchers who have carried forward the noble tradition of remaining faithful to their mission for defending the leader, the social system and the people in the stern annals of the revolution to reliably safeguard the outposts of class struggle.

Thunderous cheers of "hurrah!" raised by parade members resounded through the sky of the square, amplifying the immutable truth that the destiny of the country and the happiness of the people and the ever-victory of the Korean revolution are guaranteed in defending the Party Central Committee.

Then the flight parade of the KPA Air Force began.

Air squadrons, in formations depicting the five-pointed star and laurel tree, flew past the sky above the square while letting off fireworks to brighten the sky.

The spectators raised cheers, feasting their eyes on the air squadrons making zero feet flight and displaying such aeronautics as zooming.

While letting off the fireworks, a squadron in a fan-shape formation left the trails reflecting the ardent will of the combat pilots to devotedly defend the Party Central Committee with fervent loyalty to it.

Amid the endless expression of trust in the heroic KPA, the vanguard ranks of loyalty which follow the path indicated by the Party Central Committee after entrusting their destiny totally to it, the columns of mechanized units began their advance.

The columns of latest tactical missile units entered the square in the spirit of smashing the enemy' aggression war hardware at once with high mobility and annihilating blows, fluttering their colors.

The column of prototype tanks, a symbol of the strong combat power of the KPA and its iron fist, roared past the square.

The square was full of strong courage and militant enthusiasm of Korean tankmen who will sweep away everything in their way and fly the flag of victory before anyone else when the moment of the decisive battle comes, following the traditions of the guard tank units that braved the flames of the Fatherland Liberation War.

The reliable artillery pieces, the first arm of the People's Army and the most powerful arm in the world, moved past the square reflecting the will to reduce the enemy position into a sea of flames and set off the fireworks of victory once the Party Central Committee issues an order to fire.

The great Comrade Kim Jong Un advanced the outstanding military idea and theory that the true defence capabilities precisely mean strong attack capabilities and has built up the great attack capabilities and overwhelming military capabilities for preventing war, ensuring the national security and surely containing and controlling any threats and blackmail by the imperialists.

Iron-clad ranks that have developed into invincible, ultra-modern offensive strike groups under the care of the gifted military strategist and peerlessly illustrious commander appeared at the square.

A column of super-large MLRS, one of absolute weaponry of the DPRK without an equal in other parts of the world that is capable of carrying out a scorched-earth operation any moment through successive strike with major targets of strike in the operational zone in its firing range roared past the square.

Columns of strategic missiles entered the square, demonstrating the strong capabilities for executing a war making it possible to react to any warfare in the sky, land, sea and outer space and decisively contain and frustrate the enemy.

WPK-style Juche-based weapons, our dear ones inspiring great confidence and eternal treasure of our nation never to be bartered for anything, appeared one after another.

Our invincible country is demonstrating its might as a military power that had access to perfect and powerful deterrence for self-defence under the outstanding guidance of the great Comrade Kim Jong Un who accomplished the historic great cause of completing the nuclear forces by making a long journey of patriotic devotion with a death-defying will in order to make sure that the people would eternally enjoy happiness free from the horrors of war generation after generation.

The spectators raised enthusiastic cheers, feasting eyes on the Juche- based weapons symbolic of the truth that a country and an army that firmly preserve, carry forward and accomplish the revolution with a great origin and history and the cause pioneered by the leader always emerge victorious, and the absolute weaponry that vividly reflects the appearance of our country as an advanced, modern, heroic and brave country.

Amid the playing of solemn music and focusing of spotlights and display of fireworks, a great entity representing the strategic forces of the Republic appeared at the square.

At that moment the spectators raised loud cheers, greatly excited to see the giant ICBM Hwasongpho-17 which soared into sky on March 24 to demonstrate the absolute power of Juche Korea and the strategic position of our Republic to the world.

They extended highest glory to Kim Jong Un, great champion of justice and peace and peerless hero who has built up the national power, the greatest ever since the founding of the country, and ushered in the era of the most dignified powerful country in the nation's history of 5 000 years, the era of the our state-first principle by leading the country and its people with his outstanding ideology, leadership, passionate love and absolute trust.

The most powerful weapons in the world that represent the soul of Juche, patriotism of all the people and the great strength eternally guaranteeing the future of the country and the nation rolled past the square, fully demonstrating the unshakable will of our Party and people to more dynamically and more vigorously accelerate the continued development of the capabilities for self-defence and war deterrence that constitute the bedrock of the existence of our state and guarantee for its development.

When the military parade ended, all the participants again broke into thunderous cheers of "Hurrah!" and fireworks were let off.

Spectacular fireworks let off in the middle of the Taedong River and from different parts of the square colorfully decorated the nocturnal sky of April.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering crowds.

The square was overflowing with the revolutionary enthusiasm of all the participants to remain loyal to him only with a firm faith that the Korean revolution pioneered by the President and Korean-style socialism preserved under the leadership of the Chairman remain unfazed and an immensely rosy future is in store for the country thanks to the respected General Secretary.

The military parade for celebrating the 90th founding anniversary of the KPRA served as an event of great significance that demonstrated once again before the world the invincibility, mightiness and radical development of the armed forces of the Republic that guarantees the succession and implementation of the revolutionary cause of Juche, while demonstrating the might as the revolutionary army of the Party that remains absolutely loyal to the idea and leadership of the WPK and as the reliable defender of peace , and marked a historic occasion for greatly encouraging the Korean people in their heroic struggle for adding glory to the great era of Kim Jong Un and a new era of building a prosperous and powerful nation

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Makes Speech at Military Parade Held in Celebration of 90th Founding Anniversary of KPRA

 

Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) –

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at the military parade held in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) on April 25, Juche 111 (2022).

The following is the full text of the speech:

All the brave officers and men of the armed forces of our Democratic People's Republic of Korea,

Officers and men of the units participating in the military parade,

Comrade war veterans, exemplary soldiers and merited persons invited to this square of celebration,

Esteemed Pyongyang citizens, Dear comrades,

Today we are holding a grand military parade in celebration of an anniversary, significant and glorious for our great Party, state and people.

At this moment overflowing with the glory of the long history of our army building, we are all here filled with a great pride in having the armed forces that firmly defend the Party, the revolution, the country and the people and reliably guarantee peace and stability.

Seeing the dependable elite units massed in this Kim Il Sung Square with their victorious colours and feeling, through them, the level of the modern character of the armed forces of our Republic, all the people across the country will realize once again the profound and great significance the birth of their country's first genuine armed forces 90 years ago had in the history of our revolution and nation and will have in the future development of our state and people.

The founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army was an event of national significance that declared a death-defying resistance against imperialism under the unfurled banner of winning national liberation and independence by our own efforts, as well as a historic event that ushered in a new era of the Juche revolution that relies on powerful revolutionary armed forces.

The major meaning of this event is not confined only to the fact that our people, who were forced to live a pitiable life in the turmoil of history, could have their own national army and the hope of their revival; it also lies in the fact that the event declared at home and abroad the steadfast idea of anti-imperialist revolution of the Korean revolutionaries to settle accounts to the end and by force of arms with those who infringed upon the dignity and sovereignty of our nation and their unyielding will to win the people's freedom and liberation and the revolution's victory without fail by the internal forces.

History has clearly proved that this determination and will the Korean revolutionaries opted for to carve out the destiny and future of their people was absolutely correct.

The revolutionary weapons the fine sons and daughters of our people held aloft in the forests of Paektu were an expression of the soaring spirit of independence of the Korean nation, their hope and the great banner of their unity, as well as the force that loaded the mettle of self-dependence and Herculean strength in the tear-stained fists of the Korean people.

Thanks to these armed ranks, a far-reaching plan of the Korean revolution was matured, the unyielding spirit and formidable strength with which to prevail over the imperialist tyranny were nurtured, and the great traditions, basic and everlasting in the development of our revolution, were created.

The ideology, faith and traditions, which our revolutionary army cherished and succeeded from the outset of its founding, constituted the basis of the spiritual strength and ever-victorious guarantee that made it possible to display an undying heroic and self-sacrificing spirit in defending the Party, the revolution, the territory and the people in the fiercest-ever anti-imperialist confrontation, in the first line of grim class struggle and in the ever-changing circumstances of history, mindful of its intrinsic revolutionary and class nature and mission. This army achieved the great cause of the country's liberation and nation's revival through an unprecedented bloody struggle, repulsed the armed aggression by the US- led allied imperialist forces and defended with honour the sovereignty, dignity and safety of the country with an unrivalled heroic spirit; it has recorded ever-victorious feats while defending the ruling Party, the government, the territory and the people throughout the historical course of the socialist revolution and construction with an ennobling self- sacrificing spirit. Our Party and people regard it as a source of their greatest honour and pride to have such a brave, steely and loyal army.

All our priceless gains, plus everything else on this land, are associated, first of all, with the services of our revolutionary army. This we should keep in mind.

Not only as the main force for national defence but also as a powerful force for national development, our revolutionary army, true to the Party's intentions, has always made devoted efforts to carry out the ambitious revolutionary undertakings aimed at attaining lofty ideals. By doing so, it has performed such great exploits, which no others could do, in creating a new history of socialist construction and enhancing the dignity and honour of our great state. Regarding it as its lifeblood and top honour to be faithful to the Party, the government and the people, our revolutionary army has kept the lineage of the Korean revolution safe and sound and defended the ideology and cause of the Workers' Party of Korea resolutely, and reliably guaranteed the existence and development of our state and the welfare of our people. Thanks to these exploits of lasting value it has performed over the past 90 years, the annals of the Korean revolution spanning a century are resplendent with victory and glory.

We will remember for all ages that our great armed forces have always opened up the way for advance in the vanguard at each of the difficult revolutionary stages and that the glorious and worthwhile victories of our Republic have been won at the cost of the priceless blood and sweat our revolutionary army shed and the noble self-sacrifice it made.

The glorious history of our armed forces is embodied in the proud and honourable successors, that is, the officers and men from the elite units of the Republic's armed forces, who will march in fine array across this square of victors, and all other soldiers standing guard at the air, ground and naval posts and performing feats of labour at sites of grand socialist construction throughout the country.

Availing myself of this meaningful opportunity, I, on behalf of our Party and government, would like to pay noble tribute to the anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners and martyrs of the People's Army, who dedicated their precious lives in the struggle for national sovereignty and independence and the people's liberation, for the build-up of the revolutionary armed forces and for the victorious advance of the socialist cause. I also offer hearty congratulations to all the officers and men of the Korean People's Army and all other members of the armed forces of our Republic, who are making a great journey of faithful succession to their revolutionary forerunners.

In addition, I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to all the families on this land, which have had their dear husbands and children stand at the forefront of national defence.

Comrades,

The glorious 90-year journey our revolutionary armed forces have made safeguarding the prosperity and development of the country by force of arms, should be continued for another hundred, nay a thousand years.

In the era we are living in now, we should continue to exalt the glory of the powerful army and change to be more powerful at a fast speed incomparable with the past 90 years.

In the present world where different forces collide fiercely with one another, a nation's dignity and sovereignty and reliable genuine peace are guaranteed by powerful defence capability that can overpower any enemy.

We should continuously grow stronger.

There is no satisfaction or accomplishment in cultivating strength for defending ourselves, and, whoever we confront, our military supremacy should be more secure.

The revolution demands this, and the future of all the generations to come depends upon this.

Our general line of building the revolutionary armed forces is to make the People's Army an ever-victorious army.

An ever-victorious army–this must be the eternal name of our People's Army and shine as a priceless honour belonging only to our revolutionary armed forces.

The People's Army should hold fast to our Party's orientation and general line of army building and dynamically open up a new phase of its development.

To do so, it should define it as the core target to strengthen itself politically and ideologically and make itself strong in military technology, and give a stronger impetus to consolidating itself into an army, strong in ideology and faith, which is absolutely loyal to the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea and boundlessly faithful to its revolutionary cause and into an elite force possessed of courage, capability and self-confidence for responding to any type of war and crisis without any hesitation.

Strengthening it politically and ideologically is the main aspect and first strategic task of our building of the army.

The political and ideological preparedness of the army and the ideological and spiritual preparedness of the masses of the soldiers, the motive force of the armed forces, are basic in the effort to make our revolutionary army fulfil its mission as the army of the Party, people and class and actively respond to any type of war and crisis.

The staunch revolutionary spirit and class awareness of the army we have to further cultivate in the future will play a decisive role in building up the fighting efficiency of our army and defence capabilities of the nation.

The unique character of our revolution is that one generation of the revolution is continually replaced by another and we have to face for a long period of time the imperialists who grow ever more ferocious with each passing day. This presents it as a crucial strategic task of army building and anti-imperialist struggle to stoutly carry on the baton of the great revolutionary ideology and spirit which originated in Paektu. When we carry out this task as the core in army building, we will surely be able to maintain and consolidate the qualitative supremacy of our revolutionary armed forces.

All the Party organizations and political bodies of the People's Army should continue to stoke up the flames of the ideological revolution and focus their all-out effort on cultivating the revolutionary ideology and spiritual strength of the soldier masses.

Regarding it as our top-priority task to develop the People's Army into an army strong in ideology and faith, we should prepare all the service personnel to be ideological guardsmen who fight only in line with the revolutionary ideology and will of the Party Central Committee, who cherish staunch class awareness and indomitable fighting spirit as part of their mental qualities, and who never allow a single misfire or an inch of deviation from the centre of the target designated by the Party Central Committee.

We should also strongly push ahead with building it up into an army strong in military technology with a view to radically improving its fighting efficiency.

The global trend of military development and rapidly- changing style of warfare at present demand that we modernize our army at a faster rate in terms of military technology.

Holding aloft the slogan of modernizing the army, we should strive to the utmost to develop our People's Army into a powerful army equipped with highly advanced military technology.

By pressing ahead with the modernization of the military talents training system, we should bring up a larger number of officers who are fully capable of commanding units of different arms and services at all levels. And we should make all the units and sub-units of the army fully ready to carry out any combat missions by modernizing their operation and combat training.

The sectors of defence science and munitions industry should continue to develop and deploy for actual combat cutting-edge military hardware of new generations so as to ceaselessly increase the military power of the People's Army.

In particular, the nuclear forces, the symbol of our national strength and the core of our military power, should be strengthened in terms of both quality and scale, so that they can perform nuclear combat capabilities in any situations of warfare, according to purposes and missions of different operations and by various means.

The prevailing situation demands that more proactive measures be taken to provide a firm and sustained guarantee for the modern character and military technological supremacy of our Republic's armed forces.

To cope with the rapidly-changing political and military situations and all the possible crises of the future, we will advance faster and more dynamically along the road of building up the self-defensive and modern armed forces, which we have followed unwaveringly, and, especially, will continue to take measures for further developing the nuclear forces of our state at the fastest possible speed.

The fundamental mission of our nuclear forces is to deter a war, but our nukes can never be confined to the single mission of war deterrent even at a time when a situation we are not desirous of at all is created on this land.

If any forces try to violate the fundamental interests of our state, our nuclear forces will have to decisively accomplish its unexpected second mission.

The nuclear forces of our Republic should be fully prepared to fulfil their responsible mission and put their unique deterrent in motion at any time.

Comrades, officers and men of the People's Army,

Our armed forces are now fully prepared for any type of war.

If any forces attempt military confrontation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, they will be perished.

All the armed forces of the DPRK, with the heroic Korean People's Army as their core, should always firmly believe in their cause, march forward valiantly against all challenges filled with confidence, remain faithful to their sacred mission of defending the safety, dignity and happiness of the people, and securely guarantee the development of our socialism by maintaining their invincible military supremacy.

All the officers and men of the armed forces of the Republic,

As long as your hearts are pulsating with the precious blood and noble spirit of the revolutionary forerunners and as long as the revolutionary armed forces are always standing at the vanguard of the revolution as the embodiment of the ideology and will of the Workers' Party of Korea and of the strength of our state and people, the cause of socialism of our own style will be ever-victorious in the future, too.

Commanding officers and men of the KPA and all other armed forces of the DPRK,

For the safety and happiness of our great people, For the eternal glory and victory of our great state, Let us fight vigorously.

Long live our great revolutionary armed forces!

Long live our great country, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea!

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Meets Commanding Officers of KPA Units

 

Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met and warmly congratulated the commanding officers of units at all levels of the Korean People's Army (KPA) taking part in the celebrations of the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) at the office building of the WPK Central Committee on Monday.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un invited the commanding officers of KPA units at all levels to the celebrations of the meaningful holiday in April and bestowed such profound benevolence to be conveyed generation after generation.

The commanding officers were filled with great joy and excitement as they came to enjoy the great honor and happiness to be remembered throughout their lives at the supreme headquarters of revolution, which all the KPA men and officers consider as the most sacred place and defend devotedly, the courtyard of the Party Central Committee which all the people in the country regard as the very protector of their destiny.

When Kim Jong Un arrived together with his wife Ri Sol Ju, all the participants broke into stormy cheers of "hurrah!" as a token of their deep reverence for him, the invincible and iron-willed commander representing the mightiness of the Party and the state who is ushering in the heyday of strengthening the national power while demonstrating to the world the dignity and prestige of the country with his faith of Paektu, great courage and outstanding leadership.

He congratulated the army commanding officers who are greeting the 90th founding anniversary of the KPRA with the honor and pride of firmly consolidating the strong fortress for defending the revolution and the country with the arms of revolution handed down by the anti-Japanese forerunners.

Noting that succession to the revolution doesn't simply mean handing down something from one generation to the next but means inheriting the fighting spirit and the soul immortal with fortitude, he said the revolutionary traditions of Paektu established during the anti-Japanese struggle are the main source of the spiritual strength and combat power of our army.

Noting that our army has developed into an invincible army, which is capable of striking fear into any formidable enemy in the world, from two pistols, he stressed that its history is unprecedented in the world army- building history and the revolutionary army reliably carrying forward the great traditions always emerges victorious and remains unchanged in its nature in any storm and stress.

Saying that our revolutionary armed forces should become the red arms and red treasured sword of the Party for defending the red flag, the red idea and the red system, he had a meaningful photo taken with his beloved soldiers who play a core role in the struggle for vigorous development of the People's Army.

Following the photo session, combatants of an air-borne unit landed on the courtyard of the Party Central Committee, flying the national flag, and the commanding officers had a photo taken against the background of the office building.

Amid the overflowing warm feelings of kinship forged between the leader and his soldiers in the struggle for accomplishing the great cause of building a prosperous nation with a strong army, a splendid banquet was given at the garden of the office building in the presence of Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju.

Present at the event of honor were Jo Yong Won, Kim Tok Hun, Pak Jong Chon and Ri Pyong Chol, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, and the commanding officers.

It was also attended by Ri Yong Gil, Kwon Yong Jin and Rim Kwang Il, senior officials of the armed forces organs, and O Il Jong and Kang Sun Nam, department directors of the Party Central Committee.

Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Party Central Committee, made a speech.

Congratulating the participants who came to have the honor of celebrating the historic founding anniversary of the first revolutionary armed forces of the Korean people at the office building of the Party Central Committee, Pak Jong Chon recalled that the 90-year-long history of the Korean revolutionary armed forces, which set out on their struggle in the forests of Mt Paektu and always emerged victorious, has witnessed the shining achievements of the army commanding officers who upheld the guidance of the great commanders on the army with heroic fighting spirit and remarkable feats.

He pointed out that the commanding officers of our revolutionary armed forces, including the first commanders and famous veteran commanders of the anti-Japanese guerrilla army, heroic commanding officers in the great anti-U.S. war and those who distinguished themselves in championing and building socialism, were all faithful and brave fighters. It is the law of growth and development unique to the KPA that such passionate revolutionaries and brave warriors trained by the great leaders and commanders have become the backbone and the engine for powerfully accelerating the efforts for turning the revolutionary armed forces into elite ones and defending the cause of the Party in the van, he stressed.

He said that the peculiarities of the Korean revolution which are accompanied by constant confrontation with the strong imperialist forces clearly highlight the primary mission of the armed forces of the Republic to support the authority and leadership of the WPK with strong arms.

He stressed that when commanding officers, the backbone of the revolutionary army of the Party, remain absolutely loyal to the Party Central Committee and train all officers and men to be the ones strong in ideology and faith, our revolutionary armed forces will come to have invincible power, adding the fundamentals of our revolutionary armed forces, which are strong in idea and win victory on the strength of ideology, can never change although they now have access to nuclear weaponry to contain and annihilate any formidable enemies on the earth, as was in the past when the revolutionary forerunners held aloft the banner of anti- Japanese armed struggle.

Pak Jong Chon ardently called for adding glory to our Party, our people and our-style socialism with powerful revolutionary arms, vigorously advancing toward the accomplishment of the great cause of building a powerful army in the great era of Kim Jong Un with the indomitable spirit displayed in the period of pioneering the bloody Korean revolution to brave trials and death and with the wisdom and courage cultivated under the care of the legendary great men.

All the participants drank toasts to the good health of Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the WPK and supreme commander of the DPRK armed forces, and to our state which will certainly prosper along with the development of the revolutionary armed forces.

The commanding officers of units at all levels renewed their iron will to fulfill their mission and duty in strengthening the entire army into the first death-defying corps and the elite army that forms an indestructible bulletproof wall around the Party Central Committee, cherishing the great love and trust shown by Kim Jong Un as the greatest treasure of their lives.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery

 

Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), visited the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt Taesong on April 25, the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army.

Accompanying him were Pak Jong Chon and Ri Pyong Chol, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, Ri Yong Gil, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, and commanders of the large combined units of the Korean People's Army (KPA).

The guard of honor of the KPA lined up at the cemetery. The national anthem of the DPRK was played there.

A wreath from the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was laid before the wreath-laying stand of the cemetery amid the playing of the wreath-laying music.

Wreaths in the names of the WPK Central Military Commission and the KPA were placed at the stand.

 Written on the ribbons of wreaths were letters "The revolutionary martyrs will be immortal".

Kim Jong Un, together with the visitors, paid a silent tribute to the anti- Japanese revolutionary martyrs who dedicated their youth and lives to accomplishing the sacred cause of national independence and emancipation of the people.

There took place a march-past of the KPA guard of honor.

Kim Jong Un looked round the cemetery.

Recollecting the achievements and the eternal history of struggle of the anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners who held President Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the center of unity and leadership in the period of pioneering the Korean revolution and established the revolutionary traditions of Mt Paektu, the eternal treasure of the revolution, by making a long journey of bloody battles, he placed flowers at the busts of Kim Chaek, An Kil, Ryu Kyong Su and Choe Hyon and paid high tribute to the revolutionary martyrs.

Saying that the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, the first generation of the Korean revolution, accomplished the historic cause of national liberation by overcoming in the do-or-die spirit the worst trials baffling human imagination with the transparent faith that they would certainly win victory thanks to Kim Il Sung, the validity of their cause and the optimism about the future, he stressed that the immortal feats of the anti-Japanese guerrillas, who established the great traditions of the Korean revolution shining along with the history of succession and provided the eternal foundations of our great state, will be conveyed to posterity.

He said that the revolutionary traditions of Mt Paektu serve as the firm foundations of our Party and revolution, the noble spirit to be kept by our people and service personnel forever and the most precious treasure that should never be bartered for any valuables, adding that the history of Juche-oriented army building woven with victory and glory clearly proves the inexhaustible power and everlasting viability of the spirit of Mt Paektu.

Noting that thanks to the event on April 25 to remain in history forever, the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK has developed into a world- class powerful army, socialist Korea demonstrated its might and the Korean people led an independent and happy life, he said that the revolution, given continuity by the ideological lineage and faith, will always emerge victorious. The noble souls of the anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners will be immortal along with the glorious history of our powerful revolutionary army and the prosperous development of our great state, he stressed.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Exchanges Letters with S. Korean President

 

Pyongyang, April 22 (KCNA)

-- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un exchanged personal letters with President of south Korea Moon Jae In.

Upon receiving a personal letter from Moon Jae In on April 20,

Kim Jong Un sent his reply letter on Thursday.

The top leaders of the north and the south of Korea exchanged best regards in the letters.

Referring to the efforts made by the top leaders of the north and the south for peace of the Korean Peninsula and the north-south cooperation in the difficult situation so far, Moon Jae In in his letter expressed the will to make the north-south joint declarations the foundation for the reunification even after his retirement.

Recollecting that the top leaders of the north and the south made public the historic joint declarations giving hope for the future to the entire nation, Kim Jong Un appreciated the pains and effort taken by Moon Jae In for the great cause of the nation until the last days of his term of office.

Sharing the same view that the inter-Korean relations would improve and develop as desired and anticipated by the nation if the north and the south make tireless efforts with hope, the top leaders mutually extended warm greetings to the compatriots in the north and the south.

The exchange of the personal letters between the top leaders of the north and the south is an expression of their deep trust.

Arch of Triumph, Grand Monument Conveying President Kim Il Sung's Feats of National Liberation​

Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- It has been 40 years since the erection of the Arch of Triumph at the foot of Moran Hill in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, to immortalize President Kim Il Sung's exploits for the country's liberation.

Chairman Kim Jong Il initiated the construction of the Arch of Triumph and led it so that it could be finished on the occasion of the 70th birthday of the President. The arch was unveiled on April 14, Juche 71(1982).

The arch is a grand four-storey stone structure, 60 m high, 50.1 m long and 36.2 m wide.

There are four arch passages on four sides in the first floor and three floors have flat roofs, each getting smaller as they go up. Sculptures carved in relief clearly show the revolutionary theme of the structure.

The immortal revolutionary paean "Song of General Kim Il Sung" and numbers "1925" and "1945" signifying years show the revolutionary history and exploits of the President who made a triumphant return home after liberating the country through 20-year long hard-fought anti-Japanese struggle.

Mt Paektu portrayed on left and right walls on the second floor reflects the spirit of the Korean people to carry to completion the revolutionary cause of Juche that was started in the deep forests of Mt Paektu.

Sub theme sculptures also carved in relief portray our people's deep reverence for the President on the day of his return and their struggle for building a new country.

The arch conjures friendly yet sublime feelings for its majestic yet glamorous shape and size and graceful decoration.

The grand monument will shine long thanks to the noble loyalty of our people to convey the undying revolutionary exploits of the President to the future generations.