Party in Russia congratulates Secy. Kim Jong Il on his birthday
Pyongyang, February 22 (KCNA) -- The political executive committee of the Peace and Unity Party in Russia on February 13 made public a congratulatory statement on the occasion of the 55th birthday of Secretary Kim Jong Il.The statement said:
The political executive committee of the Peace and Unity Party in Russia congratulates you comrade Kim Jong Il, a prominent activist of the international liberation movement and the great son of the Korean people, on your 55th birthday and wishes you a long life in good health as well as greater success in accomplishing the entire Korean people's cause of reunification and prosperity.
You have taken over the leadership of the country in a hard time.
Therefore, your feats in leading the people to a bright future are all the more great.
Study group of Secy. Kim Jong Il's idea of youth movement inaugurated in Guyana
Pyongyang, February 22 (KCNA) -- An inaugural ceremony of the group for the study of Secretary Kim Jong Il's idea of the youth movement was held in Guyana on February 9 on the occasion of his 55th birthday.
The chairman of the Guyanese National Committee for the Study of the juche Idea of Pres. Kim Il Sung in his speech said that Secretary Kim Jong Il has put his heart and soul into strengthening and developing the youth movement, considering it a basic matter concerning the future destiny of the country and the nation in his early years.
We will conduct diversified activities to learn from his idea of the youth movement and further strengthen and develop exchange between youth organisations of the two countries, said the chairman.
The chairman, vice-chairman and secretary general of the group were elected at the ceremony.
A letter to Secretary Kim Jong Il was adopted there.
Secy. Kim Jong Il's works published in foreign countries
Pyongyang, February 22 (KCNA) -- Famous works of Secretary Kim Jong Il were published in booklet in Tanzania and Finland on the occasion of his 55th birthday.
"The Workers' Party of Korea is the Party of President Kim Il Sung" was brought out by the printing service of Tanzania on Feb. 14 and "respecting the forerunners of the revolution is a noble moral obligation of revolutionaries" by the Tam Pere Publishing House of Finland on Feb. 10.
Choe Kwang dies
Pyongyang, February 22 (KCNA) -- Marshal of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Choe Kwang, member of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, Vice-Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, member of the party Central Military Commission and Minister of the People's Armed Forces, passed away from a heart attack at 8:30 a. m. on Feb. 21, 1997 at the age of 78.
An obituary was issued by the WPK Central Committee, the Party Central Military Commission and the DPRK National Defense Commission Friday.
The obituary notes that Choe Kwang was a faithful revolutionary soldier of President Kim Il Sung and a close revolutionary comrade-in-arms of Secretary Kim Jong Il and a loyal son of the WPK and Korean people.
All his life was a brilliant one of a resolute communist revolutionary who devoted himself to the party and leader, country and people, the obituary says, and goes on:
He received many orders and medals including two orders of Kim Il Sung, the supreme order of the DPRK, the title of twice hero of the DPRK, the orders of national flag first class and the freedom and independence orders first class for his special exploits for the victory of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and the fatherland Liberation War, strengthening of the WPK and the revolutionary armed forces, and prosperity of the country.
He was awarded the title of Marshal of the KPA in October 1995. The WPK Central Committee, the Party Central Military Commission and the DPRK National Defense Commission announced that a state funeral for him will be held and issued the list of the funeral committee.
The state funeral committee consists of Secretary Kim Jong Il, Ri Jong Ok, Pak Song Chol, Kim Yong Ju, Kim Yong Nam and 80 other senior party, state and military officials and anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters.
The bier of Choe Kwang is placed at the Sojang club in Pothonggang district, Pyongyang.
The coffin will be carried out at 8:00 a. m. on Feb. 25.
Obituary on death of Choe Kwang
Pyongyang, February 22 (KCNA) -- Marshal of the Korean People's Army Choe Kwang, politburo member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Vice-Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, member of the Party Central Military Commission and Minister of the People's Armed Forces, died from heart attack at 08:30 on February 21, 1997 at the age of 78.
An obituary was published by the WPK Central Committee, the Party Central Military Commission and the DPRK National Defence Commission on Feb. 21.
Choe Kwang was a revolutionary soldier loyal to the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung, a close revolutionary comrade-in-arms of Secretary Kim Jong Il and a son faithful to the WPK and the people, the obituary said, and went on:
He was a resolute fighter and a talented military commander who devoted his whole life to the revolutionary struggle.
He remained unfailingly loyal to the party and the leader, the country and the people till the last moment of his life since he began revolutionary activities in his early years.
He dealt annihilating strikes to the enemies with his brave and skilful military and political activities during the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and made great contributions to winning victory in the anti-Japanese armed struggle.
In the period of the Fatherland Liberation War, he commanded a combined unit of the KPA, skilfully organized the unit to smash the enemies and greatly contributed to victory in the war.
Working at responsible posts of the armed forces for many years, he made active contributions to firmly defending the socialist fatherland and the gains of revolution from the encroachment of the enemies.
He was respected and loved by the members of the WPK, officers and men of the KPA and the people for his devotion to the country and the people, his steadfast revolutionary principle and his noble traits.
His death is a great loss for the WPK and the people waging a vigorous struggle, full of conviction of certain victory, to accomplish the Juche revolutionary cause and accelerate the independent reunification of the country.
The precious feats performed by him for the party and the revolution, the country and the people, and his indomitable revolutionary spirit will remain forever in the hearts of the Korean people.
Brief biography of Choe Kwang
Pyongyang, February 22 (KCNA) -- Marshal of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Choe Kwang, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, who was also politburo member of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee, Vice-Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and member of the Party Central Military Commission, was born into a poor peasant's family on July 17, 1918.
He took part in the glorious anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, organized and led by the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung, and greatly contributed to the country's liberation.
He, who was a member of the children's corps in the first days of the anti-Japanese armed struggle, joined the young volunteer corps and later became a commanding officer of the Korean people's revolutionary army.
He had been active as Chief of staff and Commander of a KPA division from September 1946 and as division commander, deputy chief of staff of the front heaquarters, Chief of staff and Commander of an army during the Fatherland Liberation War, making a tangible contribution to building regular revolutionary armed forces and winning the war.
From June 1954, he had served as chief of staff of the eastern military district command. Later, he became President of Kim Il Sung Military University, KPA Air Force Commander, Chief of the general staff of the KPA and Minister of the People's Armed Forces.
He was elected alternate member of the C.C., WPK at the Third Congress of the WPK in April 1956, member of the C.C., WPK in March 1958, alternate politburo member at a WPK Conference in October 1966 and Secretary of the C.C., WPK in March 1968.
He was elected politburo member and also Vice-Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission in May 1990.
He had been a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly from its first term beginning august 1948.
He was awarded two orders of Kim Il Sung, the Supreme Order of the Republic, and the Title of twice hero of the Republic, orders of National Flag First Class, freedom and independence orders first class and many other orders and medals. He became KPA Vice Marshal in April 1992 and KPA Marshal in October 1995.
Choe Kwang died of a sudden illness on Feb. 21, 1997.