Among the audience were Ri Yong Ho, Kim Yong Chun, Jang Song Thaek, Kim Jong Gak, Kim Myong Guk, Pak Jae Gyong and service personnel of the KPA.

The audience paid silent tribute in humblest reverence to General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

The performance began with the immortal revolutionary hymn "Song of General Kim Jong Il".

Its repertoire included colorful numbers like brass band and mixed chorus "Comrade Kim Jong Il Is Our Supreme Commander", female solo and mixed pangchang of immortal masterpiece "Where Are You, Dear General?," male solo and male chorus "Song of Comradeship", male chorus "Leader, Just Give Us Your Order" and mixed chorus "Strength of Korea".

The performance reached its climax when the audience heard narrative poem "Korea, Tell Us" leading it to bear in mind once again how precious the arms bequeathed by Kim Jong Il as the biggest revolutionary heritage is.

When the songs "Footstep" and "We Will Defend General Kim Jong Un at the Risk of Our Lives" resounded forth, the whole audience seethed with an atmosphere of intense loyalty.

He expressed great satisfaction over the splendid performance firm in ideological principle and high in the spirit of the times and replete with militancy staged by creators and artistes of the People's Army. He highly appreciated their successful performance and extended thanks to them.

It is the performance which powerfully demonstrated the true revolutionary characteristics of the KPA by thoroughly embodying instructions of Kim Jong Il in art creative and productive activities and made a profound ideological representation of the firm readiness of the service personnel and people to carry on long journeys for the Songun revolution, holding high the red flag, he said, adding that Kim Jong Il would have been satisfied with the performance, if he had watched it.

Noting that the song "Yearning Is Boundless" is the one of the best new songs, he said with deep emotion that he could not keep back tears while listening to the song.

Remembering Im Tok Su who was a singer of the State Merited Chorus, he asked officials to convey without fail his hope that Im's family would always trust the Party and share destiny with it just as Im did.

He set forth the tasks of the art organizations of the KPA and gave precious instructions to carry them out.

The art organizations of the KPA should not lose the nature as the revolutionary and militant art units of the KPA in the art creative and productive activities in keeping with their mission, he noted, adding:

It is an important duty facing the art organizations of the KPA this year for the creators and artistes of the KPA to earnestly keep abreast of the stirring realities and conduct the frontline-style art agitation and performing activities.

He repeatedly said the performance today was successful, expressing great expectation and conviction that the creators and artistes of the KPA would more enthusiastically and loudly sing militant songs powerfully arousing the service personnel of the KPA and people to the drive to accomplish the WPK's cause of Songun revolution in the future, too.