Congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Il from V. Putin
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, received a personal congratulatory letter from V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation, today on the occasion of his birthday.
Extending his sincere congratulations to Kim Jong Il on the significant anniversary of his birthday, Putin said in the letter:
You are greeting your 60th birthday regarded as an age of sagacity and ripeness in view of the traditions of Korea and Russia in a very responsible period for the DPRK and the life of the Korean people.
Russia hopes for successes in your country's onward movement for socio-economic wellbeing, and supports the inter-Korean dialogue based on durable peace and security and closer independent approach between the north and the south of Korea.
I recall the meetings held between you and me with warm feelings and deep emotion.
We assure you that we are going to consistently implement the strategic agreements reached during your visit to Moscow in 2001.
I am convinced that Russia-DPRK cooperation has great potential and the bonds of friendship between the two peoples which were forged through history will be a good foundation for developing the mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields.
Your excellency Kim Jong Il, I wish you greater success in your activities for the wellbeing of the Korean people and a long life in good health.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from Norodom Sihanouk
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from Norodom Sihanouk, king of Cambodia, on Feb. 10 on the occasion of his birthday.
Extending the warmest congratulations, on behalf of the Cambodian parliament, government, people and royal family and on his own behalf, to Kim Jong Il on his 60th birthday, Sihanouk said in the message: i am pleased to express my best wishes for your long life in good health and happiness and for greater success in carrying out your noble and historic cause as the supreme leader of the DPRK and the Korean people.
The message highly praised his great cause of nation-building intended to build Korea into a most developed, invincible and powerful country.
You are the most prominent successor to President Kim Il Sung, father and the great leader of the Korean people who defended the independence and sovereignty of Korea, it said.
Congratulatory message to Kim Jong Il from C.C., Communist Party of China
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory message from the central committee of the Communist Party of China today on the occasion of his birthday.
The message says:
We, on behalf of the CPC and the Chinese people, extend the warmest and sincerest congratulations to you on your 60th birthday.
Under your leadership the whole party, army and all the people of Korea overcame difficulties in singlehearted unity by displaying the spirit of self-reliance and fortitude and have made continued and new successes in carrying out the cause of building Korean-style socialism, promoting the independent and peaceful reunification of the country, developing the friendly relations with various countries and defending peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
We rejoice over this and firmly believe that the fraternal Korean people will surely build Korea into a prosperous socialist country under the guidance of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by you.
China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors bordering each other on a mountain and river and the friendship between the two peoples has a long history.
The traditional Sino-Korean friendship provided and fostered by leaders of the old generation of the two countries is now progressing and steadily developing with the times thanks to the deep attention and care of you and General Secretary Jiang Zemin and the joint efforts of the two parties and the two peoples.
The Chinese party, government and people, together with the Korean party, government and people, are determined to put the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and the two countries on a new stage of development in the spirit of "inheriting the tradition, orienting to the future and strengthening good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation" in the new century.
At this auspicious moment your 60th birthday is greeted, we wholeheartedly hope that you will enjoy good health and happiness and continued fresh successes in your noble cause of building socialism and achieving the independent and peaceful reunification of the country by leading the Korean party and people.
Emblem of Karachi city government and its diploma presented to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was awarded an emblem of the Karachi city government of Pakistan, and its diploma.
A ceremony of awarding them was held in Karachi on Feb. 11.
The emblem and its diploma were conveyed to the DPRK ambassador by Muhammad Tariq Hassan, deputy mayor of the Karachi city government and speaker of the city assembly.
Inscribed on the emblem are letters reading "To the great leader your excellency Kim Jong Il on the occasion of your birthday, the most auspicious national holiday of the Korean people." and written on the diploma are the following words:
"The Karachi city government regards it as its great honor to award its emblem to your excellency in high recognition of the immortal exploits you have performed for Korea's reunification, the world peace and the human cause of independence."
Brief history of Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- February 16 is the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
He was born in Mt. Paektu in Juche 31 (1942), which is called the sacred mountain of revolution in Korea.
He was born to the most patriotic and revolutionary family who had struggled against the foreign aggressors and for the independence of the country, people's freedom and emancipation and the accomplishment of the cause of socialism and communism through generations..
He finished his common education from September 1950 to August 1960 and higher education at Kim Il Sung University from September 1960 to March 1964.
After starting his work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in June 1964, he was elected secretary of the C.C., the WPK in September 1973 and member of its political bureau in February 1974.
He was elected presidium member of the political bureau and secretary of the WPK Central Committee and member of the Central Military Commission of the WPK at the 6th Congress of the WPK held in October Juche 79 (1980).
He was elected deputy to the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Supreme People's Assembly from February 1982. He was elected first vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK in May 1990, its chairman in April 1993 and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army in December 1991.
In October 1997 he was elected General Secretary of the WPK.
He was reelected Chairman of the NDC of the DPRK, the highest post in the DPRK, in September 1998.
The title of Marshal of the DPRK was awarded to him in April 1992.
Kim Jong Il has wisely led socialist construction in the DPRK through his outstanding ideological and theoretical activities and with his unique political mode for scores of years and achieved the single-hearted unity of the whole society with his benevolent politics, an all-embracing politics. He has also performed immortal feats for the movement for the rebuilding of socialism and the human cause of independence.
Progressive humankind is now highly praising him as great leader for his lofty political idea of "believing in the people as in heaven," the outstanding leadership ability and noble personality.
Kim Jong Il was awarded the title of Hero of the DPRK and Kim Il Sung Order several times for his contribution to the strengthening and development of the Korean and the world revolution and the international communist movement.
He also received many orders of the DPRK and foreign countries and honorary titles of doctor of universities in different countries.
International forum meeting to congratulate sun of 21st century
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- An international forum meeting to congratulate the sun of the 21st century took place here yesterday with large attendance.
Present there were representatives of international organizations, delegations and delegates of regions and different countries who are participating in the "Meeting to Congratulate the Sun of the 21st Century".
Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and chairman of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People, and other officials concerned were also on hand.
Honorary chairman Reggie Ranatunge of the Asian Regional Committee to Support Korea's Reunification made an opening address, which was followed by a congratulatory speech of Mun Jae Chol.
Then N.T. Mawema, vice-chairman of the African Regional Committee of Friendship and Solidarity with the Korean People, made a report.
He said that Kim Jong Il is a political leader and the sun of progressive mankind on whom they can depend for the bright prospect of the development of the times and the destiny of the new century.
He has fully demonstrated the qualification and capacity as a political leader of the world stature and personality as a great man for scores of years since he was elected successor to President Kim Il Sung, the reporter said, and continued:
He is not only the leader of socialism in the present times but a great guardian of human justice.
The human cause of independence in the 21st century will advance along the orbit of victory without fail under his leadership.
Then the floor was taken by Kazuhiko Seino, president of the liaison council of the Society for the Study of the Juche Idea of Japanese Teachers, Martin Lotscher, chairman of the Swiss Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, Alejandro Cao De Benos, chairman of the Spanish Association for Friendship with Korea, Otete Gaston Mboyo, chairman of the Democratic Congo-Korea Friendship Association, Diego Antonio Revero, mayor of Palavecino, Lara state of Venezuela, and Alexsandr Brezhnev, delegate of the Russian Union of Writers.
A letter to Kim Jong Il was adopted at the forum.
Emilia Fernandez, vice-chairman of the Latin America and Caribbean Committee for Supporting Korea's Reunification, made a closing address.
Reception given by Ministry of People's Armed Forces
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of the People's Armed Forces gave a reception yesterday evening on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il.
Invited there were military attaches of different embassies here.
Speaking at the reception, Jo Myong Rok, director of the general political department of the Korean People's Army, said that Kim Jong Il has long given perfect answers to all the theoretical issues related to the building of the party, the state and the army through his energetic ideological and theoretical activities and successfully applied them to the revolutionary practice, bringing about an epochal change in this land.
Supreme commander Kim Jong Il has fully demonstrated the might of the DPRK by resolutely smashing the imperialists' moves to stifle it with his far-sighted and extraordinary wisdom and original army-based revolutionary leadership, Jo Myong Rok said, and continued:
We will develop the friendly and good-neighborly relations with all the countries and armies which respect the DPRK's sovereignty in the idea of independence, peace and friendship and thus make active contributions to the cause of global independence and peace of humankind.
Military attache of the Chinese embassy here Yan Jiangfeng who is doyen of the military attaches corps spoke next.
Kim Jong Il wisely led the Korean people true to the cause of President Kim Il Sung to triumphantly conclude the "arduous march" and the forced march and firmly defend the sovereignty and dignity of the nation and socialism, he noted.
He said he was sincerely delighted to see the achievements made by the Korean people in recent years in the economic construction, development of external relations and the drive to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, which draw attention of the world people.
Art performances given in celebration of Feb.16
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Performances were given at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre, the Mangyongdae School Children's Palace and the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace yesterday to celebrate the auspicious February holiday.
Seeing the performances were senior party and state officials, chairmen of friendly parties, officials of party and power organs, working people's organizations, commissions and ministries of the cabinet and national institutions, servicepersons of the Korean People's Army, overseas Koreans staying here and working people in the city.
Also present on invitation were diplomatic envoys and foreign guests here.
At the Pyongyang Grand Theatre a music and dance performance "Our Comrade Kim Jong Il" was given by artistes in Pyongyang including the Mansudae Art Troupe, the Phibada Opera Troupe, the National Art Troupe and the National Symphony Orchestra to celebrate February 16.
The program of the performance which raised its curtain with chorus "We will be loyal down through generations" included colorful numbers depicting the Korean people's best wishes and fervent loyalty to leader Kim Jong Il.
At the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace and the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace, the art circle members of the palaces gave performances.
The participants in the performances which began with song and dance "Glory to Fatherly Leader" sang of profound reverence and best wishes to him from all the schoolchildren throughout the country on the occasion of the meaningful February holiday when the whole country is pervaded with great joy and happiness.
Kim Jong Il receives big silk banner
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il received a big silk banner from the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI) yesterday on the occasion of his birthday.
And he received a floral basket from Kenichi Ogami, secretary general of the IIJI.
Mass gymnastic display given
Pyongyang, February 16 (KCNA) -- The mass gymnastic display titled "under banner of army-based policy" was given by 10,000 school youth and children at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium today to celebrate the February holiday, leader Kim Jong Il's birthday.
Seeing the display were Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Jo Myong Rok, director of the general political department of the Korean People's Army, Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, and other senior party and state officials.
Also among the spectators were congratulatory groups of Koreans overseas including the congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan and compatriots overseas.
Present on invitation were diplomatic envoys of different countries here, delegations and delegates and other foreign guests.
The mass gymnastic display was divided into seven parts including "We will glorify Korea with arms," "We will never forget the army-based leadership exploits " and "Let us hold Kim Jong Il in high esteem with faith and sense of obligations."
The display that began with the play of "National Anthem" made an epic depiction of the revolutionary exploits Kim Jong Il has performed with his army-centered politics for scores of years by devoting his all to the noble struggle for the Korean revolution and the human cause of independence.
It fully demonstrated the steadfast faith and will of the people's army and people of Korea to fly the red flag without fail on the high peak of a powerful nation, by dynamically advancing on the road of Juche-based socialism with the same vim and vigor, with which they triumphantly concluded the "arduous march" and the forced march and paved the way for a new advance under the great revolutionary army-based leadership of the Worker's Party of Korea.
The display was highly acclaimed by the spectators for its high ideological and artistic value, dynamic and refined gymnastic skill of its performers and tactful changes in formation.