The participants in the event laid a floral basket and bunches of flowers before the portraits of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il to pay respects to them.

Pak Kyong Ho, chairman of the confederation, said in his speech that Kim Il Sung embarked on the road of revolution in his early years to defeat the gangster-like Japanese imperialists and liberate Korea and carried out the historic cause of building the party and the state.

Recalling the exploits of the President, the compatriots have come to realize more keenly how great man the Korean nation had had as its leader, the speaker said.

Kim Jong Il has energetically worked to build a great prosperous and powerful socialist nation, the lifelong desire of the President, he said, adding that the overseas compatriots, too, are blessed with illustrious leaders generation after generation as they are guided by him.

He called upon all the compatriots to contribute to the building of a thriving nation and national reunification true to the leadership of Kim Jong Il.

Then, there was an art performance.