He was greeted on the spot by the commanding officers of the Korean People's Army involved in the renovation project and leading officials of the theatre.

The theatre where architecture has been successfully put on a plastic and artistic basis is provided with all facilities for art creation, performing activities and audiences ranging from more than 1,300 seats, stage, ultra-modern sound and lighting equipment, training and makeup rooms to catering facilities.

He looked round the outside and inside of the theatre for a long while to learn in detail about its renovation.

Commanding a bird's-eye view of the theatre which looks magnificent and splendid, he recollected with deep emotion the unforgettable historic days. He said that the theatre is, indeed, a significant place which bears witness to major events that took place in the glorious course of the development of the WPK and the DPRK.

After learning in detail not only about the architectural style and contents of the theatre but its decoration, fixtures and echo inside it, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the soldier-builders have renovated the theatre associated with the leadership exploits of President Kim Il Sung on the highest level to meet the aesthetic need of the new century by displaying popular heroism.

The renovated theatre not only has good inner structure but the renovation has been done on a high level and it is perfect both in contents and style as a palace of culture and arts, he said, extending high appreciation and thanks to the soldier-builders for having successfully renovated the theatre as a modern one.

The Pyongyang Grand Theatre is an excellent cultural palace in the era of Songun where the national classic beauty is combined with the contemporary beauty and its elegancy, magnificence and exquisiteness are kept in good harmony, he noted, expressing immense joy at being able to bequeath another precious treasure to posterity.

The theatre is the fruition of the great loving care of the President as it is the embodiment of his ideal of "Believing in people as in Heaven," he said, adding: It is our sacred duty and noble sense of obligation to make this precious legacy bequeathed to us by the President shine generation after generation.

He set forth tasks to be fulfilled to manage and operate the theatre.

He was accompanied by Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the C.C., the WPK, Jang Song Thaek and Choe Ik Gyu, department directors of the C.C. the WPK, Kang Nung Su, minister of Culture, and KPA Generals Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su.