The Day of the Sun (April 15) is coming near, the article said, and went on:

The north is now alive with the preparations for the festival on the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung after putting up the slogan "Glorify this year 2012 as a year of proud victory, a year when an era of prosperity is unfolding, true to the instructions of the great General Kim Jong Il!" in the joint New Year editorial.

The north is known to be busy with preparations for large-scale events in the run-up to the Day of the Sun.

Brisk are preparations for the April Spring Friendship Art Festival, the Kimilsungia Festival and other events.

A photo exhibition co-sponsored by KCNA and AP has been under way at the Rubin Museum of Art of New York since March 15.

The north announced that it would launch satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 on the occasion of the Day of the Sun.

The Conference of the Workers' Party of Korea, in particular, is drawing attention of the world.

The Day of the Sun this year is of very weighty historic significance, the article said, adding south Koreans should also commemorate the festival as compatriots.