They are the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the anniversary of Kim Jong Il's assumption of the chairmanship of National Defence Commission of the DPRK.

On and around the days the country was wrapped in gay festive mood.

The festive mood was heightened by the successful launching of the satellite "Kwangmyongsong-2" into the orbit on April 5 by the carrier rocket "Unha-2", both homemade, under the state's long-term plan for the development of outer space.

The First Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly on April 9 reelected General Secretary Kim Jong Il as chairman of the NDC of the DPRK, thus placing him at the top post of the Party and the state.

Mass rallies, meetings and gatherings were held every day in Pyongyang and provinces, cities and counties to hail this enthusiastically.

Pyongyang was the venue of the 26th April Spring Friendship Art Festival, the 11th Kimilsungia Festival and the IAAF-22nd Mangyongdae Prize Marathon Race around the Day of the Sun.

The celebrations also included festive stages of working people's organizations, joint meetings of the Korean Children's Union organizations, evening galas of youth and students, a national calligraphic festival, the Songhwa Art Show and a food festival for the occasion.

Cinemas and houses of culture across the country showed documentary and feature films telling about the immortal revolutionary feats of the President.

On April 14, a national meeting commemorating the 97th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung was held to be followed by a grand evening of firecrackers "Fireworks for Building Great, Prosperous and Powerful Nation."

Pyongyang and the towns and villages, factories and enterprises, and co-op farms in the provinces, cities and counties garbed in gala attire were overflowing with the ardor of the people and the army singing songs of glory and praise to Kim Il Sung.