Kim Jong Il visits KPA navy command
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited the navy command of the Korean People's Army on April 15 and congratulated officers and men of the KPA on Sun's Day.
He was accompanied by Jo Myong Rok, director of the KPA general political department, Kim Yong Chun, chief of the KPA general staff, Kim Il Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, and staff members of the KPA supreme command.
At the navy command, he acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of servicepersons and warmly congratulated officers and men of the KPA on Sun's Day.
Looking at the historic relics and data in the room for the education in the revolutionary history, he said the undying revolutionary exploits performed by the President Kim Il Sung for the cause of building the navy will shine long in the history of the country.
At the operational command room he was informed of the situation by the commander of the navy and learned about its unit's performance of the duty.
He noted with great satisfaction that all the commanding officers of the navy command, equipped with the Juche-based military tactics of the WPK, are fully capable of commanding operations and firmly defending the seas of the country in the do-or-die spirit of safeguarding the party, the revolution and the socialist country by force of arms, and highly appreciated their feats.
He put forward highly important tasks that would serve as guidelines in further strengthening and developing naval forces.
He went round the education room, bedroom and other places of a unit under the navy command. He said commanding officers should take tender care of details of the living of soldiers as their parents would do.
He enjoyed an art performance given by soldiers of the unit and gave it an automatic rifle as a gift.
He posed for a photograph with officers and men of the navy command and soldiers of the unit under the command.
Message to Kim Jong Il from Cambodian King
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a message from Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk on the occasion of Sun's Day.
In the message Norodom Sihanouk said President Kim Il Sung steadfastly stood on the side of all people aspiring after freedom, independence and non-alignment and set a brilliant model of solidarity and friendship among all the oppressed nations and people while leading the gigantic construction on all daily-changing fronts.
The message further said:
I extend warmest greetings to you, the most respected man, and the government and people of the DPRK, firmly believing that the most rich and valuable invariable relations of friendship forged between us in the past will be everlasting with you.
I take this opportunity to express my wish from the bottom of my heart that you at the head of the people-centred and democratic state will achieve greater success in accomplishing the historical and most noble and glorious cause.
I express my best and warmest regards to you, the supreme leader.
Floral baskets laid before statues of Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Working people, servicemen and school youth and children of the DPRK laid floral baskets, bouquets and flowers before the statues of the President Kim Il Sung on April 15, Sun's Day.
Those in Pyongyang visited his statue on Mansu Hill.
Before the statue there was a basket of flowers sent by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Laid amid the playing of music were floral baskets, bouquets and flowers in the name of institutions, KPA units, industrial establishments, organizations, farms, schools and families.
The visitors paid homage to the statue of the President.
Other statues of the President in Pyongyang, including those at Kim Il Sung University, Kim Il Sung Political University, the Korean Film Studio and the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace were also visited.
On the same day working people, servicemen and school youth and children across the country visited his statues in their residential quarters to lay floral baskets, bouquets and flowers.
Meanwhile, his statue on Mansu Hill was visited on Sun's Day by the diplomatic corps and the military attaches' corps, participants in the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival, overseas Koreans and members of the Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea. The visitors laid baskets of flowers and made deep bows before the statue.
Officials of the Chinese and Russian consulates-general in the city of Chongjin laid baskets and bunches of flowers before the statue of the President in the city.
Chinese delegations and Korean residents in China, too, visited his statues in Chongjin and Kanggye, carrying floral baskets and bouquets.
That day the members of the NDFSK Pyongyang mission visited the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery on Mt. Taesong.
They laid bunches of flowers before the bust of Kim Jong Suk, an indomitable communist revolutionary fighter, and paid a silent tribute to her.
Gift to Kim Jong Il from Indonesian
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from Rahmawati Sukarnoptri, President of the Sukarno Educational Foundation and chairperson of the Indonesia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Interchange Association who is staying in Korea to commemorate Sun's Day.
The gift was handed to an official concerned on Saturday.
Senior party and state officials pay respects to Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Premier Hong Song Nam and other senior party and state officials of the DPRK visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace on April 15, Sun's Day, to pay homage to the President Kim Il Sung.
Laid before the statue of the President was a basket of flowers in the joint name of the central committee and the central military commission of the Worker's Party of Korea and the National Defence Commission, the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the cabinet of the DPRK.
The visitors paid deep respects to the statue. And they went upstairs to make deep bows to the President who lies in state.
Then they looked round with deep emotion orders and medals the President received from different countries, a portrait of the President with sunny smile against the background of the red flag and bronze sculptures in relief in the wailers hall, a train that he used for on-site guidance and foreign tour and a car he used in the last period of his life.
On the same day the palace, the sacred temple of Juche, was visited by officials of party, military and power bodies, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, bereaved families of the revolutionary martyrs, officials of scientific, educational, cultural and art, public health and press organs, men and officers of the Korean People's Army and citizens.
Floral basket to Kim Il Sung's statue from Palestinian President
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat sent a basket of flowers to the statue of the President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill here on Sun's Day.
Ibrahim Abu Mualiq, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Palestinian embassy here, laid the basket before the statue and made a deep bow to it on Saturday.
Delegates to IIJI meeting arrive
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Bishwanath, secretary general of the International Kim Il Sung Prize Council and secretary general of the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea, arrived here on Saturday to attend the 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche idea.
He was met at the airport by Kim Yong Il, vice-chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society.
Earlier, Rui Matos Dias, chief of the Portuguese Group for the Study of Kimilsungism, came here.
Art festival participants feted
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK gave a reception at Okryu and Chonryu restaurants on Saturday in honor of the participants in the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
Invited to the reception were delegations, delegates and artistes of different countries and overseas. Korean artistes who are participating in the festival.
Present were premier of the DPRK cabinet Hong Song Nam, vice-president of the SPA presidium Yang Hyong Sop, chairman of the festival organizing committee Jang Chol and officials concerned.
Speeches were made there.
Foreigners and overseas Koreans pay homage to Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Foreigners and overseas Koreans visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where the President Kim Il Sung is preserved in state for perpetuity, on Saturday, Sun's Day, to pay homage to him.
Among those foreigners were the diplomatic corps and military attaches' corps in the DPRK and delegates to the 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea.
The visitors paid deep respects to the statue of the President and went upstairs to make a deep bow to him at the palace.
Then they looked round with deep emotion orders and medals he received from different countries, the wailers hall, a train that he used for on-site guidance and foreign tour and a car he used in the last period of his life.
Joint performance of Korean and foreign artistes
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- A joint performance of Korean artistes and the participants in the 18th April Spring Friendship Art Festival was given in the pleasure ground on Mt. Taesong here on Saturday, Sun's Day.
The performance was appreciated by artistes of different countries, overseas. Korean artistes, foreign guests, and working people and youth and students in the city.
Korean artistes put on the stage numbers such as choruses "Let Us Sing of Sun's Day" and "There Is No Such Person As Our Leader In the World" and dance "Yangsando".
Foreign artistes presented Korean songs "Enjoying Sunrise on Taedong River" and "A Girl In Spring" and folk songs of different countries to delight the Korean people on Sun's Day.
Anniversary of Spanish Communist Party celebrated
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea yesterday sent a congratulatory message to the federal committee of the Spanish Communist Party on the 80th foundation anniversary of the party.
The message noted that over 80 years after its foundation the Spanish Communist Party has waged a vigorous struggle to protect the democratic rights and vital interests of the working masses and defend the global peace and security against imperialism.
The WPK expresses full support and solidarity with the just struggle of the Spanish Communist Party, it said.
It also believes that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties will continue to strengthen and develop, the message said, wishing the Spanish Communist Party fresh success in its activities.
Message of thanks to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on Friday sent a message of thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong Il for having sent Educational Aid Fund and Stipend.
Noting that Kim Jong Il sent 211.4 million yen of Educational Aid Fund and Stipend again for the democratic national education of Chongryon on the occasion of Sun's Day, the message expressed the highest glory and the deepest thanks to him, reflecting the boundless reverence and loyalty.
The message said:
The Chongryon central standing committee will hold you in high esteem with loyalty in any adversity and build up Chongryon as an organization of overseas. Koreans which remains intensely loyal to you.
The committee wholeheartedly wishes a long life in good health to you, the great leader and the benevolent father, reflecting the unbounded reverence and loyalty of all the Korean residents in Japan.
Foreigners visit Kimilsungia Show
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Foreigners staying here to attend the 15th meeting of the board of directors of the International Institute of the Juche Idea visited the 2nd Kimilsungia Show on Saturday.
Kimilsungia came into being as a flower symbolic of the greatness of the respected President Kim Il Sung and as flower in the era of independence.
The visitors looked round Kimilsungias on show with keen interest, being briefed on the fact that the flowers have come into full bloom, carrying the world and Korean people's deep reverence for the President.
Sun's Day commemorated
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- Sun's Day was commemorated yesterday in different parts of the country.
An evening gala of youth and students in Pyongyang was held at Kim Il Sung Square.
Present at the gala were premier Hong Song Nam and other senior party and state leaders.
Present on invitation were members of overseas Korean delegations and individuals on a visit to the socialist homeland to commemorate the 88th birth anniversary of the President Kim Il Sung, foreign delegations and delegates and other foreign guests and diplomatic envoys and embassy officials here.
The gala began with firecrackers fizzling. The participants danced to the tune of songs "We Visit Mangyongdae," "Let Us Uphold Our Marshal" and so on.
Overseas Koreans and foreigners joined them in dancing.
On the same day, 50,000 members of the shock brigade of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League participating in the Pyongyang-Nampho Motorway project held a gathering to sing songs reflecting their loyalty.
Artistes of National Art Troupes gave colorful performances at theatres and outdoor stages in the city.
Provincial art troupes gave commemoration performances at local theatres.
Camping of children's union members begins
Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- The first-term camping has begun at children's camps in different parts of the country to mark Sun's Day.
The Mangyongdae children's camp and other camps held meetings to receive campers yesterday.
Campers will visit revolutionary sites and conduct different activities including plant-collecting, mountain-climbing, sports games and amusements and art performances.
Participating in camping were sons and daughters of people's army officers, scientists, technicians and workers in the major fields of the national economy including electric power and coal industries.