Greetings from Kim Jong Il from V. Putin
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a message of greetings from V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation, on February 14 on the occasion of his birthday.
The message extended heartfelt congratulations to him on February 16, a significant national day of the DPRK.
It expressed sincere understanding and support to his efforts to bring a new peak to the development of Korea and strengthen security and cooperation on the Korean peninsula.
It said that cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is positively developing on the solid foundations of the relations of friendship and good neighbourliness between the two peoples, which have been strengthened by the new treaty between states, and in the spirit of the Russia-Korea joint declaration adopted on July 19, 2000, which conforms with the interests of the two countries and constitutes a great contribution to peace and strengthening of security on the Korean peninsula.
Floral basket to Kim Jong Il from C.C., Communist Party of China
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a floral basket from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the occasion of his birthday.
The basket was conveyed to an official concerned by Chinese ambassador to Korea Wang Guozhang on February 15.
Congratulatory letters to Kim Jong Il from foreigners
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il yesterday received floral baskets and congratulatory letters from the military attaches corps and officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of different embassies here on the occasion of his birthday.
Meanwhile, diplomatic envoys from Russia, China, India, Vietnam, Libya, Iran, Cambodia, Palestine, Laos, Syria Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Poland, Romania, Pakistan and Yemen and the Chinese and Ethiopian embassies presented floral baskets, gifts and congratulatory letters to him.
He also received congratulatory letters, gifts and bunches of flowers from military attaches of embassies of Vietnam, Russia, Cuba, Egypt and Iran and congratulatory letters from the resident coordinator of the united nations and resident representative of the UNDP, the representative of the UNICEF and the deputy representative of the WFP here.
Floral basket to Kim Jong Il from Syrian President
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a floral basket from President of Syria Bashar al Assad, General Secretary of the Arab Socialist Baath Party and commander-in-chief of the army and armed forces, on the occasion of his birthday.
The floral basket was conveyed to an official concerned by charge d'affaires ad interim of the Syrian ambassador here Haissam Saad on February 15.
Foreign diplomats visit Kimjongilia Show
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here visited the fifth Kimjongilia show on February 15 on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
They looked round kimjongilias, immortal flowers which have made their appearance carrying the infinite respects and reverence of the Korean people and progressive humankind.
They also visited Pyongyang Senior Middle School No. 1.
Ministry of People's Armed Forces hosts reception
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of the People's Armed Forces hosted a reception on Thursday on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
Present at the reception were minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Il Chol and generals and officers of the Korean People's Army.
Invited were military attaches of foreign embassies here.
Addressing the reception, Kim Il Chol said it was a historic event heralding an extremely good luck in the 5,000- year-long history of the Korean nation that Kim Jong Il was born as the son of Mt. Paektu with the spirit and resourcefulness of Korea.
He noted that Kim Jong Il has led the Korean revolution to victory and glory for scores of years.
Pointing out that it is the invariable stand of the Workers' Party of Korea, the state and the army to develop friendly and good neighbourly relations with all countries of the world which respect the DPRK's sovereignty in the idea of independence, peace and friendship, he declared that the Korean People's Army would further develop friendly and cooperative relations with armies in different countries in the new century and make a positive contribution to global independence and the human cause of peace.
Vu Dinh Thang, military attache of the Vietnamese embassy here and doyen of the military attaches corps, said in a speech that Kim Jong Il was born on Mt. Paektu at a time when the anti-Japanese war for the liberation of the country was at its height.
The career of Kim Jong Il who is successfully carrying forward the revolutionary cause of President Kim Il Sung is closely linked with the history of the Korean revolution, said the military attache.
He expressed the firm belief that the Korean people would certainly win victory in socialist construction and in the work for the independent and peaceful reunification of the country under the great army-first revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il.
Evening gala held
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- An evening gala was held by the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces at Jonsung Square of Pyongyang on Feb. 15 on the occasion of the birthday of supreme commander Kim Jong Il.
Present there were Jo Myong Rok, director of the general political department of the Korean People's Army, Kim Yong Chun, chief of the general staff of the KPA, and KPA officers and men.
Its participants danced to the tune of songs "Congratulations on February Holiday", "Song of Best Wishes" and others, extending highest glory and warmest congratulations to the supreme commander on his birthday being celebrated amid best wishes of all peoples.
Banquet given for overseas Koreans
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A banquet was given for overseas Koreans at the Mokran House yesterday on the occasion of leader Kim Jong Il's birthday.
Present there were overseas Koreans and delegations of overseas Koreans including a congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan and a congratulatory group of the general association of Koreans in China that visited the socialist homeland to celebrate the day.
Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, said in his speech that this grand banquet was arranged under the care of Kim Jong Il.
Under Kim Jong Il's army-first leadership, a grand march to build a powerful nation started and a bright vista was opened for national reunification, he emphasized.
He expressed the firm belief that the overseas Koreans would single-heartedly trust and follow Kim Jong Il only in the future, too, and make tangible contributions to carrying out the noble cause of national prosperity and reunification.
So Man Sul, first vice-chairman of the central standing committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, and Yang Yong Dong, chairman of the General Association of Koreans in China, in their speeches said that they would make tangible contributions to consolidating their organizations to be genuine Juche-based organizations of overseas Koreans and making this year a year of opening the door of reunification by the Korean nation's efforts, breathing the same breath with the compatriots in the homeland.
A performance was given by artistes at the banquet.
Turkish crewmen meet
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A meeting of crewmen of Turkish-flagged ship Pira was held in Kim Chaek Port on the east coast of Korea on Feb. 13 to celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il which falls on today.
Speakers at the meeting said that the Korean people are building a powerful nation, demonstrating its might as the most dignified country in the world and the homeland of Juche where human dreams come true, despite manifold difficulties including the imperialists' blockade and natural disasters, under the great army-first revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il, the genius of humankind and the greatest man.
Recalling that a bright prospect was opened for national reunification in Korea in the wake of the adoption of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration thanks to Kim Jong Il's superb tactics and extraordinary leadership last year, they said that his political ability with which he has brought about epochal changes and worked miracles has struck the world with admiration.
Papers call for single-hearted unity
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Today the Korean people significantly celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
February 16 is a historic date which promised the Korean people a bright future of the country and ever-lasting victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche.
Rodong Sinmun today in an editorial says that the path of revolution covered by the Korean people under the leadership of Kim Jong Il represents a proud history in which victory has been won by virtue of single-hearted unity.
The editorial continues:
The road of victory covered by the workers' party and the people of Korea is a glorious road of struggle along which the leader and the people have dynamically advanced, sharing the idea and intention, a road of unbreakable unity along which they trusted and relied on each other and history of unity which saw them sharing bitters and sweets and destinies.
A decisive factor which enables the Korean people to dynamically advance along the road of victory in the 21st century despite difficulties and ordeals lies in the single-hearted unity of all the people around the great leader.
The single-hearted unity of the revolutionary ranks gives a powerful impetus to advancing the Korean revolution along the road of independence. The single-mindedness of the WPK and the Korean people serves as a driving force in carrying the socialist cause of Juche to completion.
Nothing is impossible and no fortress remains unconquerable in socialist construction as there is the single-hearted unity that has become unbreakable in the course of the struggle to defend socialism.
The 21st century is sure to witness a great fruition of Kim Jong Il's politics of unity and an overall victory of Korean-style socialism.
The editorial calls for vigorously advancing along the road of victory upholding Kim Jong Il's politics.
Minju Joson editorially says that a bright future is in store for the Korean people who are working hard to open up a road of advance in the new century under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
KCU national joint meeting of organizations
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- A national joint meeting of organizations of the Korean Children's Union was held in the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium today to celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
Present there were choe thae bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea: Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and other senior party and state officials.
At the end of the KCU ceremony Ri Il Hwan, first secretary of the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, delivered a report.
He called on the members of the KCU to exert great efforts to become builders of a powerful socialist nation under the slogan "Let us learn for Korea " an accession ceremony took place there.
Upon hearing the shout of the slogan "Let us always get ready to become reserves for communist construction " Those honoured to join the KCU responded ready always
10th International Figure Skating Festival for Paektusan Cup closes
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The 10th International Figure Skating Festival for Paektusan Cup, which opened in Pyongyang on Feb. 12 to mark leader Kim Jong Il's birthday, closed today.
Through the festival skaters from different countries exchanged their successes and experience and deepened their friendship.
A closing ceremony was held at the ice rink.
Present there were senior party and state officials including Hong Song Nam and Yang Hyong Sop, working people in the city and foreign guests staying in the DPRK.
Prizes were awarded to successful skaters at the ceremony.
Then followed demonstration performances by those who gave a good account of themselves in the festival.