Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) -- The grand gymnastic and artistic performance "Arirang", winner of Kim Il Sung Prize, was given at the May Day Stadium on Thursday to mark the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the DPRK.

It was appreciated by senior party and state officials, the chairperson of a friendly party, deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly, officials of the party, armed forces and power organs, social organizations, ministries and national institutions, servicepersons of the Korean People's Army and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, officials in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health and media, bereaved families of revolutionary martyrs, persons of merits and working people in the city.

Present there on invitation were the delegations of overseas compatriots including the congratulatory group of Korean residents in Japan which came to the socialist homeland to celebrate the 63rd birthday of the DPRK, visiting groups and compatriots, chief of the Pyongyang Mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, diplomatic envoys of different countries and members of the military attaches corps and representatives of international organizations here and other foreigners.

The performance began when letters including "Highest Tribute to the Great Leader, Father of Nation" and "Highest Glory to the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il" were displayed on the background in succession to the tune of song "His Ideal" and the floor of the stadium turned into a sea of dancers.

The performers made an impressive grand epic representation of the immortal exploits President Kim Il Sung performed by building an independent socialist state with his outstanding idea and leadership and providing an eternal foundation for building a rich and powerful country and those Kim Jong Il has performed by placing the nation's dignity and honor on the highest level with his original Songun politics.