Commemorations of Day of Sun Held

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- A dancing party of young vanguard of the Ministry of People's Security took place on April 14 on the threshold of the Day of the Sun. The servicepersons with the great pride of demonstrating the might of Songun Korea and defending the Korean-style socialist system and the life and property of the people danced to the tune of melodies of "Let Us Sing of the Day of the Sun," "We Visit Mangyongdae," "Thunder on Jong Il Peak," "Song of Three Prides," "Let Us Sing of Our Pride in Being under the Guidance of the General" and other songs.
    A story-telling contest of the art circle members of the youth league primary committees across the country took place in Hamhung from April 11 to 13.
    The contest with an attendance of those circle members, who proved successful at provincial, city and county contests, involved poems, agitation drama, witty talk, solo performance and other colorful numbers.

Message to Kim Jong Il from Russian Artistes

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il today received a message from Igor Moiseyev, head of the State Academic Moiseyev Dance Company, Elena Scherbakova, director of the company, and all members of the company on the occasion of the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. The message says:
    We extend the warmest and sincerest congratulations to you on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Comrade Kim Il Sung, a great leader and teacher, the great holiday of all the Korean people.
    The birth anniversary marked the most important milestone deciding the prosperity and well-being of the state in the history of your country and the way indicated by the great teacher is brilliantly heralding the future of the country and warming up the hearts of your people as the sun does.
    Respected Comrade Kim Jong Il,
    You are wisely and purposefully leading the Korean people to happiness and well-being.
    We sincerely wish you good health and all the Korean people great success and your country, the eastern country of good manners, prosperity.
    We extend the most heartfelt and noble tribute to you.

Message to Kim Jong Il from Putin

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il on Friday received a message from V. Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on the occasion of the 93rd birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung. The message says:
    I extend my sincere congratulations to you and all the Korean people on the occasion of the 93rd birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung who is the founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the national holiday.
    I express the conviction that the relations of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between Russia and the DPRK which provided by Kim Il Sung will in the future, too, expand in the interests of the two peoples on the basis of the treaty signed on February 9, 2000 and contribute to consolidating peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.
    I wish you good health and fresh success in your responsible work and the Korean people peace, happiness and prosperity.

Floral Basket before Statue of Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here Thursday laid a floral basket before the statue of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. They laid the floral basket before the statue of the President and paid homage in humble reverence for the President who worked all his life for the prosperity of the country and happiness of the people and performed immortal and great exploits in the accomplishment of the cause of world peace and independence.

Foreign Guests Visit Kimilsungia Festival Venue

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations and officials in charge of cultural and friendly relations of foreign embassies here visited the venue of the 7th Kimilsungia Festival on Thursday on the occasion of the Day of the Sun.
    They looked round with deep emotion the festival venue that presented fantastic scenery with Kimilsungias, the flower of the sun.
    At the end of the visit they made entries in the visitor's book.
    Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov wrote that President Kim Il Sung is widely known to the world as an outstanding statesman, adding that the President provided and developed the friendly relations between Russia and the DPRK.
    Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Ramy wrote that while looking round the festival venue he recalled the immortal exploits performed by Kim Il Sung in boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between Egypt and the DPRK.
    Palestinian Ambassador Shaher Mohammed Abdlah wrote that he was deeply moved to see the sincere efforts of many people to cultivate these flowers named with the august name of President Kim Il Sung, eternal leader of the Korean people, adding that Kimilsungia is known to the world as a beautiful flower.
    He wished the Korean people greater success in their work for carrying out the socialist cause under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.

National Scientific Seminar on Kimilsungia Held

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- The National Scientific Seminar on Kimilsungia was held at the Grand People's Study House on Thursday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Kimilsungia, the flower of the sun. Present there were Kang Nung Su, chairman of the Korean Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Committee, Pyon Yong Rip, president of the Academy of Sciences, and officials concerned.
    On hand was Ri Pyong Sang, chairman of the American Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Association.
    Prior to the seminar leader Kim Jong Il's famous work "Kimilsungia Is an Immortal Flower Blooming in the Hearts of Humankind in the Era of Independence" published on April 6, Juche 94 (2005), was conveyed.
    Treatises titled the "Photosynthesis Features of Kimilsungia and Environmental Conditions for the Cultivation Based on Them", the "Researches into Nurturing Pure Line of Kimilsungia", "Ways of Blooming Kimilsungia on the Day of the Sun" and the "Researches into Ways of Bringing Kimilsungia into Full Bloom on the Day of the Sun and Other Days" were made public and five written treatises were presented.

DPRK Government Hosts Reception

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government hosted a reception in honor of delegations of Juche idea study organizations from different countries Thursday evening on the occasion of the Day of the Sun. Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, stressed in a speech that President Kim Il Sung was a great leader who fathered the immortal Juche idea and made the 20th century a century of independence and the founder of the state who provided freedom and liberation of the Korean people and prosperity of the country with his brilliant wisdom and distinguished leadership ability.
    He expressed the expectation that the adherents to the Juche idea would conduct more brisk study and dissemination of the Juche idea and the Songun idea so as to greatly contribute to realizing the cause of global independence.
    The DPRK government and people will always share the mind and will with the adherents to the Juche idea in a noble work for building an independent, righteous and peaceful world, he said.
    Vishwanath, director-general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, said in his speech that the President liberated the country by leading the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and defeated the U.S. imperialists who boasted of being "the strongest" in the world in the great Fatherland Liberation War in the 1950s for the first time in history.
    He continued:
    Kim Il Sung converted the DPRK into a paradise of the people and the Korean people registered great successes in the revolution and construction in a short span of time under his wise leadership.
    Leader Kim Jong Il who carries forward the President's cause has led the Korean people to a victory with the Songun politics.
    Kim Il Sung is always with the adherents to the Juche idea, he emphasized.

Megawati Soekarnoputri Concludes DPRK Visit

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Former Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Central Directive Council of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, and her party left for home today after the four-day visit to the DPRK. They participated in the commemorations of the 40th anniversary of Kimilsungia, the flower representing the sun, and the 7th Kimilsungia Festival during the visit.
    They were seen off at the airport by Kang Nung Su, vice-chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly and chairman of the Korean Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Committee, and Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.
    While staying here, they visited Mangyongdae, the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia Exhibition, the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, the Pyongyang Embroidery Institute and the Mansudae Art Studio.

8th Aesthetic Symposium on Present Times and National Art Held

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- The 8th Aesthetic Symposium on Present Times and National Art was held at the People's Palace of Culture on Thursday. Choe Ik Gyu, chairman of the organizing committee of the 23rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival, made a report titled "Let's develop the literature and art into genuine humanics desired by the era". Genuine humanics should serve to help a man regarding independence as his life fully discharge his mission and role as the master of the world and his own destiny, he said. The reporter called upon all the participants to more fully demonstrate in the new century the might of the literature and art as genuine humanics, whose truth and validity have been proven by the human history of literature and art, and thus greatly contribute to the eternal prosperity and the cause of independence of countries and nations.
    A professor and head of the Department of an Egyptian University and other speakers noted that in the DPRK the issue of exploring, preserving, inheriting and developing the national musical heritage has been already solved long ago under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il. They said that this achievement gives them a precious experience and serves as a model in developing national music suited to the desire and demand of the era.
    People's Artiste of the DPRK Kim Yon Gyu said in a speech titled "On the Juche-based symphony of Korea loved by its people" that the appearance of the Juche-based symphony effectively mixed with national musical instruments was an event in the Korean history of developing symphonic music. The symphonic works listed as national treasure are Juche-oriented art works popular and revolutionary in content and style and suited to the aspiration and aesthetic need of the Korean people, he added.
    Prof. and Dr. Ri Ae Sun, vice-chairwoman of the Association of Dancers under the Yanbian Literature and Art Federation in China, made a speech titled "The issue of preserving the national character in the art development of Koreans in China". She said that they would continue to concentrate efforts on the work for preserving the national character in the literature and art field and thus achieve greater success

Russian and Overseas Korean Delegations Here

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the International United Confederation of Koreans headed by Jong Yong Nam arrived here Thursday to commemorate the Day of the Sun. Also arriving was a delegation of the Tynda, Russia, Group for the Study of the Juche Idea headed by Gennadi Astakhov.

Papers on Kim Il Sung's Revolutionary Life and Feats

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Today is a historic day when the Korean people and the progressives acclaimed the eternal sun of Juche. Papers here Friday in their editorials say that the birth of President Kim Il Sung brought about a fundamental turn to the destiny of the Korean nation, heralded Korea in the East throwing its brilliant rays all over the world and opened a new era of independence.
    His revolutionary life was the great one of the peerless patriot and legendary great man who brought about changes of the century to this land, shouldering the destinies of the country and the nation, and performed the undying feats in accomplishing the revolutionary cause of Juche, the human cause of independence, Rodong Sinmun says, and goes on:
    Our country is Kim Il Sung's Korea which can be called only with his august name forever. Absolute is the authority of Kim Il Sung representing and symbolizing our state and nation.
    He liberated and defended the country, risking his life in the bloody struggle against the imperialists. His legendary feats are shining in the history of the anti-imperialist struggle. Embarking upon the road of the revolution in his teens, he declared the all-out confrontation with the imperialists, defeated the Japanese imperialists who tried to become a "leader" in Asia in his thirties and defeated the U.S. imperialists who boasted of being the "strongest" in the world in his forties.
    He did everything he could for the future of the country and happiness of all generations to come. He built in a far-sighted way the Workers' Party of Korea, the guiding force for the building of a rich and powerful country, consolidated the single-minded unity, the all-powerful treasured sword of the victory of revolution, and laid the foundation of the independent economy with which the Korean people can stand on their feet.
    It is the feat particularly noteworthy in national history that he brought up our revolutionary armed forces into a strong army in the world, giving priority to the arms in his early years.
    Today the world people are highly praising him as the eternal sun of Juche, symbol of justice and victory and lodestar of the movement for human emancipation irrespective of differences in idea, political view and national identity.
    Our country which has recorded a heroic epic of proud victory under his guidance has greeted a new era in which it is building a great prosperous powerful nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
    He is now leading to victory the gigantic patriotic cause for the eternal prosperity of the socialist country, the largest heritage of the President, holding high the banner of Songun.
    Our country which was liberated and built by the President is unswervingly advancing along the road of independence under the Songun revolutionary leadership of Kim Jong Il, demonstrating its might as a strong country of single-minded unity and dynamically moving ahead to attain a high goal of building a great prosperous powerful nation.
    It is thanks to Kim Jong Il that there is socialist Korea replete with the idea and august name of the President.
    All the Party members, servicepersons and people should more dynamically push ahead with the general march for the Songun revolution to exalt the glorious history and feats of the President.
    Minju Joson calls for holding him in high esteem as the sun of Juche for all ages.

Floral Baskets Laid

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Floral baskets were laid before the statues of President Kim Il Sung across the country on the Day of the Sun. Servicepersons, working people and school youth and children in Pyongyang visited the statue of the President on Mansu Hill to pay homage to him.
    Seen before the statue was a floral basket from leader Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army.
    Amid the playing of music, floral baskets and bouquets were placed before the statue in the name of the party, military and power bodies, public organizations, ministries, national institutions, KPA units and scientific, educational, culture and art, public health and press organs, industrial establishments, farms and schools.
    Also laid were baskets of flowers in the name of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front and overseas compatriots.
    Floral baskets were laid before the statues of the President at Kim Il Sung University, Kim Il Sung Military University, the Ministry of People's Security, the Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Palace and other places in the city.
    Servicepersons, working people and school youth and children across the country placed floral baskets and bouquets before Kim Il Sung's statues in their residential places.
    Meanwhile, floral baskets were laid by delegations in the northeast area of China before the statue of the President in Chongjin today on the occasion of the Day of the Sun.
    Several delegations of Dandong, China, laid floral baskets and bunches of flowers before the statue of the President in Sinuiju and paid tribute to him.

Guest Performances of Art Festival Given

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Guest performances of the 23rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival were given at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre, the Central Youth Hall, the Pyongyang International Cinema House and the State Dramatic Theatre on Thursday. Appreciating the performances were senior party and state officials, officials of party and power bodies, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, heroes, persons of merit and working people, artistes and students in Pyongyang, overseas compatriots and foreigners.
    Put on the stages were colorful numbers including chorus, song, dance and instrumental music. Through such numbers as "Song of General Kim Jong Il", "Song Devoted to Comrade Kim Jong Il" and "Happiness of the People under the Care of the Party", foreign artistes including those of Russia's State Academic Chorus Named after Sveshnikov and overseas Korean artistes expressed their unbounded respect and reverence for leader Kim Jong Il who accomplished the cause of perpetuating the memory of President Kim Il Sung.
    The repertoire included dance "Gift" of the Russian Kazakh Dance Company, "Dance of Soldiers" of the Belorussian State Merited Dance Company, a female vocal solo of the Italian group of famous artistes "Habanera" from the opera "Carmen" composed by Bizet, and a female vocal solo "Song of Rich Harvest" of the Malaysian music band.
    The performers well represented the ardent desire of the world progressives to lead an independent and creative life in a just and peaceful world and the spiritual world and national customs of their peoples.
    Performances go on.

Homage to Kim Il Sung Paid

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Senior party, state and army officials, servicepersons and people of different strata visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace on Friday to pay homage to President Kim Il Sung on the Day of the Sun. Amid the solemn playing of the immortal revolutionary paean "Song of General Kim Il Sung", a basket of flowers was laid before his statue in the joint name of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Central Military Commission of the WPK, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly and the DPRK Cabinet.
    Written in the ribbons hanging on the basket were letters reading "The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung is immortal".
    When they entered the hall where the President lies in state, the visitors paid deep homage in humble reverence to him who pioneered the history of the revolutionary cause of Songun and performed immortal exploits for the country, the nation and humankind.
    Then, they looked round orders, medals and certificates of honorary titles he received from the DPRK and different countries, the image of the President with sunny smile and bronze relievos in the Mourners' Hall and a train he used for field guidance and foreign tours and a car he used in the last period of his life.
    The memorial palace was also visited by delegations of overseas compatriots, including the delegation of Koreans in Japan led by Ri Ki Sok, vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, and other overseas compatriots.
    Meanwhile, it was visited by the diplomatic corps and the military attaches corps here, Director-General of the International Institute of the Juche Idea Vishwanath and delegations of Juche idea study organizations in different countries, and delegations and delegates of various countries participating in the commemorations of the 40th anniversary of Kimilsungia, the flower representing the sun, and the 7th Kimilsungia Festival.

Kim Jong Il Enjoys Performance of Chinese Hangzhou Song and Dance Ensemble

     Pyongyang, April 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Thursday enjoyed a performance given by the Chinese Hangzhou Song and Dance Ensemble attending the 23rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival. Appreciating the performance were Pak Pong Ju, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, Kim Yong Chun, member of the DPRK NDC and chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, Kim Il Chol, member of the NDC and minister of the People's Armed Forces, Yon Hyong Muk, vice-chairman of the NDC, Choe Thae Bok, Kim Kuk Thae and Kim Ki Nam, secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, leading officials of the party and the army, servicepersons and officials of literature and art and the press organs.
    Among the audience were Sun Xiaohong, head of the Chinese art troupe, and Wu Donghe, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and embassy officials.
    The artistes of the ensemble, which proved successful at several national art festivals and contests, put on the stage dances "Good Day" and "Drum Dance", twin dance "Night Performance", a solo dance "Safeguard", a female vocal solo "We Sing of the Country", and mixed duet "Song of Loyalty" and a tenor "Blue Sky above My Country", Korean songs, and other numbers.
    The performance vividly represented the ardent patriotism, traditional customs of life and national emotion of the Chinese people.
    The performance overflowing with the warm feelings of Korea-China friendship was acclaimed by the audience.
    Kim Jong Il sent a floral basket to the artistes in congratulation of their successful performance.
    After enjoying the performance he posed for a photograph with the artistes of the ensemble.
    Prior to the performance, he expressed thanks to the artistes of the ensemble for their participation in the art festival to give joy and encouragement to the Korean people and had a talk with the guests in a cordial atmosphere.

For Spanish-speaking people

Kim Jong Il recibe telegrama de Putin

     Pyongyang, 15 de abril (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio un mensaje que le dirigiera el dia 15 el presidente de la Federacion Rusa, V. Putin, con motivo del 93 aniversario del nacimiento del Presidente Kim Il Sung. La misiva senala: En ocasion de la fiesta nacional, el 93 cumpleanos del camarada Kim Il Sung, fundador de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, hago llegar mi sincera felicitacion a Ud. y a todo el pueblo coreano.
    Estoy convencido de que las relaciones de amistad, buena vecindad y cooperacion entre Rusia y la RPDC a que dio inicio el camarada Kim Il Sung se ampliaran tambien en el futuro basandose firmemente en el tratado concertado el 9 de febrero de 2000 y conforme a los intereses de los pueblos de los dos paises y contribuiran a consolidar la paz y la estabilidad de la Peninsula Coreana.
    Deseo a Ud. buena salud y nuevos exitos en su labor responsable, asi como al pueblo coreano la paz, la felicidad y la prosperidad.

Kim Jong Il recibe presente de Megawati Soekarnoputri

     Pyongyang, 15 de abril (ATCC) -- El Dirigente Kim Jong Il recibio presente que le dirigiera el matrimonio de Megawati Soekarnoputri, ex presidenta de la Republica de Indonesia y presidenta general del Consejo Directivo Central del Partido Democratico de Lucha de Indonesia, participantes en las actividades por el 40 aniversario de la denominacion de Kimilsungia y en el VII Festival de esta flor del Sol. La ex mandataria lo entrego el dia 14 a Kim Yong Nam, presidente del Presidium de la Asamblea Popular Suprema de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea.

Funcionarios extranjeros rinden tributo a Kim Il Sung

     Pyongyang, 15 de abril (ATCC) -- Con motivo del Dia del Sol (15 de abril, cumpleanos del Presidente Kim Il Sung), los funcionarios encargados de asuntos culturales y relaciones de amistad de las embajadas de varios paises en Corea depositaron el dia 14 un cesto de flores ante la estatua de bronce del Presidente erigida en la colina Mansu expresando infinita veneracion hacia el. Seguidamente, le rindieron homenaje al Presidente quien dedico toda su vida por la prosperidad del pais y la felicidad del pueblo e hizo inmortales proezas para la paz mundial y la realizacion de la causa de la independencia.