Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the WPK, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, took the tribune of honor.

Watching the gala were Kim Yong Nam, Choe Yong Rim and Ri Yong Ho, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, the delegates to the national celebrations of the 65th birthday of the WPK, officials of the party, armed forces and power organs and social organizations, the ministries and national institutions, service persons of the KPA and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, officials in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health and media, heroes and heroines, those related to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, bereaved families of revolutionary martyrs, persons of merits, working people, members of congratulatory groups, delegations and visiting groups of overseas Koreans in different regions including the congratulatory group of Ko

reans in Japan, the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-imperialist National Democratic Front, a delegation of the Communist Party of China, delegations and delegates of groups for the study of the Juche idea, diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations here and foreign guests.

Kim Ki Nam, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, said in his speech that the grand evening gala is a festival of victory and glory in high praises of the immortal feats performed by the WPK in the 65 year-long struggle under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and a festival of single-minded unity that demonstrates the tremendous might of Songun Korea dynamically dashing ahead toward the world, united close around the party.

It is a Korean-style unique gala suited to the desire and sentiment of the Korean people.

As the evening gala was declared open, paeans extending highest glory to the WPK reverberated through and there appeared on the huge electronic displays the title "Grand evening gala celebrating the 65th birthday of the WPK."

It took place with Kim Il Sung Square, the Tower of the Juche Idea and the banks of the River Taedong as its venues. The fascinating scenery was presented by fireworks of various shapes and colors displayed in the sky that demonstrated the might of Korean-style fireworks industry, the ever-changing sea of dancers and flowers and ships and boats decorated with multi-color lights.

The gala made up of prologue "Glory to Mother Party" and "Party of Comrade Kim Il Sung", "Country where Leader's Desire Has Come into Full Bloom", "Party is Guide of Victory" and epilogue "Long Journey following General" made a grand epic representation of the exploits the WPK has performed by ushering an era of prosperity, the first of its kind in the nation's history spanning 5 000 years.

Fireworks were displayed in succession in the sky when the brass bands solemnly played "Song of General Kim Il Sung," "Song Devoted to Marshal Kim Il Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong Il."

Such national events as the achievements made in acquiring CNC technology, the successes attained in the production of Juche iron and the mass production of vinalon and Juche fertilizer, the miracle wrought in reclaiming the Taegyedo tideland were truthfully represented through dynamic and graceful mass gymnastic displays and art performances and by use of peculiar means of art depiction and cutting-edge technical means including moving electronic displays.

At the end of the gala Kim Jong Il warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering masses.