It was attended by members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, leading officials of the Party and the government, chairman of a friendly party, leading officials of the armed forces organs, officials of the Party, armed forces organs, ministries and national institutions, service personnel of the Korean People's Army and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, teaching staff and students of Mangyongdae Revolutionary School and Kang Pan Sok Revolutionary School and others.

Also present at the meeting were congratulatory groups of overseas Koreans, overseas compatriots and the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front.

Invited there were diplomatic envoys, representatives of the international bodies, military attaches and foreigners here.

Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and vice-chairman of the C.C., WPK, made a report.

He said that all the Party members and other people and service personnel are splendidly celebrating the 77th birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il.

He noted that the history of Kim Jong Il's revolutionary leadership is the glorious one of the most prominent leader and great sage of revolution who led the Juche-oriented socialist cause only to the road of victory and thus performed immortal exploits before the country and on behalf of mankind.

He lauded Kim Jong Il as the brilliant thinker and theoretician who provided the powerful ideological weapon for the victorious advance of the popular masses' cause of independence and socialism and the outstanding politician who made sure that revolution and construction were made by our own efforts and our own way and thus successfully put the ideal of Juche-oriented socialism into practice.

He referred to the fact that Kim Jong Il developed Korean-style socialism into the powerful one independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in national defence.

He stressed that Kim Jong Il is the eternal leader of the Workers' Party of Korea and people who perfectly settled the issue of succession to the revolutionary cause and thus opened up the bright prospect for Korean-style socialism.

He said that Kim Jong Il advanced the patriotic line of national reunification and ushered in a turning phase for the country's independent reunification and made great contributions to the development of the global socialist movement and accomplishment of the human cause of independence with his superb diplomatic savvy and energetic external activities.

He said that the revolutionary career and exploits of

Kim Jong Il, who provided the eternal foundation for the prosperity of the socialist country while covering the unexplored path holding aloft the red flag of revolution all his life, would shine forever.

He called for adding shine to the revolutionary exploits of Kim Jong Il forever and steadily and dynamically advancing Korean-style socialism which is put on a fresh high stage.

He emphasized that the WPK and government of the DPRK would make all efforts to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and strengthen solidarity and cooperation with the socialist countries and develop relations with all countries that are friendly to the DPRK under the ideals of independence, peace and friendship.

On the same day, meetings also took place in all provinces, cities and counties and industrial complexes to celebrate the 77th birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il.