The audience accorded to him standing ovation, extending New Year greetings reflecting the ardent feelings of all the army and people.

He waved back to cheering audience and warmly congratulated them on the New Year.

The colorful performance started with national anthem was replete with revolutionary stamina. It included numbers like "We Extend New Year Greetings", "My Country of Changes" and "Led by You, We Will Win".

The performers sang highly of the glorious path of victory covered by the Korean people dashing toward a thriving nation under the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il. They also showed the iron faith and will of the army and people to effect a great surge and usher in the great heyday of prosperity in the New Year, too.

Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission, expressed great satisfaction with the excellent concert reflecting the desire and wish of the Korean people. He highly appreciated and extended thanks to the performers who displayed the revolutionary trait of creation.

The orchestra has conducted militant performing activities with numbers reflecting revolutionary enthusiasm and rich sentiment of the Korean people while preserving its specific characteristics, he said. It has thus become a group loved by the people, he added. He set forth important tasks to serve as guidelines in performing and creative activities.

He called for putting spurs to the general march of the revolution and glorifying 2011 as a year of victory to be recorded long in the history of the country now that the gate of victory is close at hand.

The audience included senior party, state and army officials.

Among them were Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Premier Choe Yong Rim who is member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, Chief of the KPA General Staff Ri Yong Ho who is member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, Ri Ul Sol and Kim Chol Man who are anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kim Yong Chun who is member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and vice-chairman of the NDC, Jon Pyong Ho and Kim Kuk Thae who are members of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok and Hong Sok Hyong who are members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the C.C., WPK, Yang Hyong Sop, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and vice-president of the SPA Presidium, Ri Yong Mu, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and vice-chairman of the NDC, Kim Kyong Hui, member of the Political Bureau and department director of the C.C., WPK, Vice-Premier Kang Sok Ju who is member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, Pyon Yong Rip, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and secretary general of the SPA Presidium, Minister of People's Security Ju Sang Song who is member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, Jang Song Thaek, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and vice-chairman of the NDC, Kim Jong Gak, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and first vice director of the KPA General Political Bureau, Kim Yang Gon, Kim Yong Il, Pak To Chun, Choe Ryong Hae, Thae Jong Su and Kim Phyong Hae who are alternate members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the C.C., WPK, Mun Kyong Dok, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., WPK and chief secretary of the Pyongyang City Committee of the WPK, Vice-Premiers Ri Thae Nam and Kim Rak Hui who are alternate members of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, Ju Kyu Chang, alternate member of the Political Bureau and department director of the C.C., WPK, and U Tong Chuk and Kim Chang Sop who are alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, O Kuk Ryol, vice-chairman of the NDC and members of the leadership organs of the C.C., WPK in Pyongyang.