Pyongyang, October 12 (KCNA) -- Sixty-six years has passed since a Pyongyang mass rally was held at the then Pyongyang public playground on October 14, Juche 34 (1945) to welcome President Kim Il Sung's triumphant return to the homeland.

At that time the newspaper Pyongyang Minbo in an article titled "Cheers of 400,000 People Rocking Tapestry-like Land" said that when General Kim Il Sung, whom the Korean people were deeply revering and eagerly waiting for, appeared on the platform, the ralliers greeted him with enthusiastic cheers, moved to tears.

Kim Il Sung delivered a historic speech "Every Effort for the Building of a New, Democratic Korea" at the rally. He said the time came when the Korean people had to pool their efforts to build a new, democratic Korea.

He called upon those with strength to give their strength, those with knowledge to contribute their knowledge and those with money to donate their money for the state building.

In hearty response to his call, the Korean people made strenuous efforts to provide solid foundations for building a prosperous country.

His speech has still encouraged the Korean people to turn out in the effort for accelerating socialist construction.

The Korean people are now working hard for the prosperity of the country under the Songun (military-first) leadership of Kim Jong Il as they did for the building of a new, prosperous country, independent and sovereign, united closely around Kim Il Sung.