Present there were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and vice-chairman of the C. C., WPK, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters Hwang Sun Hui, Kim Chol Man and Ri Yong Suk, and Yang Hyong Sop, Ri Myong Su, Thae Jong Su, Choe Yong Rim, Ri Yong Mu, O Kuk Ryol, Kim Si Hak and other war veterans, persons of wartime merits, senior officials of the C.C., WPK, and leading officials of the armed forces organs.

Present there as observers were officials of ministries, national institutions and armed forces organs, students of revolutionary schools and youths and students.

The congratulatory message of the C.C., WPK to the participants in the 5th National Conference of War Veterans was conveyed by Choe Ryong Hae at the conference.

The message said that the conference is a significant one for congratulating the second generation of the revolution, elder revolutionaries who performed undying feats in defending the country and building socialism true to the leadership of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il and for demonstrating the will of the new generations to demonstrate the strong spirit of Juche Korea by carrying forward the soul of the victors of great years.

As there was the generation who won the great victory in the war in three year do-or-die battles day and night both on front and in rear, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the people's country, has towered as the invulnerable fortress and the true appearance of heroic Korea and heroic people has shined all over the world, it noted.

Choe Ryong Hae in his report warmly congratulated anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, war veterans and persons of wartime merits and paid homage to martyrs of the People's Army, who laid down their precious lives in the hard-fought war for repelling the invasion by the imperialists, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.

He also expressed deep respect for the martyrs and war veterans of the Chinese People's Volunteers who shed their blood while fighting in the same trench with the Korean People's Army under the uplifted banner of resisting America and aiding Korea, safeguarding the home and defending the motherland.

He said that the victory won by the army and people of the DPRK in the unprecedented do-or-die battle little short of the stand-off between rifle and A-bomb was the shining victory of the Juche-oriented military idea, strategy and tactics and outstanding commanding art of Kim Il Sung, invincible and iron-willed brilliant commander.

The army and people of the DPRK defended even an inch of the land at the risk of their lives in the spirit of ardent patriotism while regarding the country as dear as their own lives and fully displayed the indomitable fighting spirit of braving manifold difficulties with confidence and optimism about sure victory and the death-defying will.

He recalled that the war veterans have remained loyal to the revolutionary cause of the Party for decades since the end of the war with the same spirit and stamina as were displayed by them as soldiers on the frontline.

He said that the respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un who is writing the history of the victorious Korean revolution with new legends of comradeship and loving care for comrades-in-arms shows all solicitude for the war veterans, regarding them as valuable assets of the country who earn their weight in gold and silver.

Juche Korea will always emerge victorious as it is holding Kim Jong Un in the van of revolution in high esteem, he said, calling on the entire army and all the people to work hard for the final victory of the socialist cause, rallied close around the Party.

Jon Ku Gang, lecturer of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, made an address of request for rising generations on behalf of the war veterans, to be followed by pledge speeches by general officer of the Korean People's Army Kim Song Chol on behalf of the People's Army and by Pak Chol Min, first secretary of the Central Committee of the youth league, on behalf of the youth.