The Defence Development Exhibition "Self-Defence-2021" was opened with splendor at the Three-Revolution Exhibition House on October 11 on the occasion of the 76th founding anniversary of the WPK.

The venue of the exhibition was full of deep gratitude and reverence for the glorious WPK which led the rapid development of defence building for self-defence and provided the absolute might for firmly guaranteeing the eternal wellbeing and future of our country.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the WPK and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, was present at the opening ceremony.

As he arrived at the venue of the ceremony, all the participants broke into thunderous cheers of "Hurrah!" for the General Secretary of our Party who provided the invincible war deterrence for firmly defending the security of the country, the safety of our people and the peace of the region and the world with his gifted wisdom, outstanding leadership and matchless pluck and who is confidently leading the Party's cause, the great cause of building a powerful and prosperous country, along the only road of victory and glory.

Present at the ceremony were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK Choe Ryong Hae, Jo Yong Won, Kim Tok Hun and Pak Jong Chon.

Also present were Ri Il Hwan, Jong Sang Hak, O Su Yong, Thae Hyong Chol, Kim Jae Ryong, O Il Jong, Kim Yong Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Kim Song Nam, Ho Chol Man, Pak Thae Dok, Kim Hyong Sik, Yu Jin, Pak Myong Sun, Ri Chol Man, Jon Hyon Chol, Pak Jong Gun, Yang Sung Ho, Ju Chol Gyu, Ri Son Gwon, Jang Jong Nam, U Sang Chol, Kim Yong Hwan and other Party and government officials, leading officials of the Cabinet, ministries and working people's organizations.

Kwon Yong Jin, Ri Yong Gil, Rim Kwang Il and other leading officials of the armed forces organs, and commanders of the combined units of all services of the Korean People's Army were also present.

Present there on invitation were merited officials, scientists and technicians in the national defence industrial field.

Before the opening ceremony, there was a peculiar rite of the combined military band.

The band made various changes of formations to make numbers reading "10.10" and the Party emblem to the tune of the revolutionary music full of militant spirit, revving up the atmosphere.

Then there was a martial art demonstration performed by combatants of the People's Army.

The soldiers who cultivated annihilating fighting spirit and bravery true to the Party's training-first policy creditably performed combat actions and method to be applauded by the participants.

A top notch parachutist showed landing skills, fluttering red Party flag in the sky in October.

There was stunt flight of combat pilots in the sky above the venue.

The spectators kept applauding the air squadron as the pilots fully showed aeronautics they cultivated through day-to-day training while skillfully performing various aerial combat flight actions like buzzing, perpendicular zooming and reversal.

Then there followed the opening ceremony.

As the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un mounted the platform together with the leading officials and meritorious workers in the field of national defence science research, thunderous cheers resounded throughout the venue of the exhibition.

Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, made an opening speech.

The national anthem of the DPRK was solemnly played as the exhibition was declared open.

Kim Jong Un made a commemorative speech at the exhibition.

He said that the grand exhibition today is an intensive and intuitive reminder of the great aspiration, leadership and practical ability of our Party writing a new history for increasing the national defence capabilities by invariably maintaining the invincible line of self-defence, and also becomes a striking manifestation of the state power as important as a large-scale military parade as it demonstrates the marvelous development that our state has gained and shining prospect of its defence science and munitions industry.

Recalling how our Party had to opt for the path of effecting revolution in the defence industry in a do-or-die spirit, the untrodden path for the past five years, the General Secretary referred to the validity of our Party's defence policy which set it as a prerequisite and vital state affairs that had to be maintained all the time to increase defence capabilities, and ardently appealed to all the people to devote themselves both physically and mentally as well as their wisdom and enthusiasm to the sacred cause for consolidating the defence capabilities of our great state in every way.

As he ended his speech, all the participants broke into thunderous cheers, extending the greatest reverence and deep gratitude to the General Secretary of our great Party.

At the ceremony commendations were awarded to those who made distinguished services for the development of the defence capabilities of the country.

Kim Jong Un personally conferred Kim Il Sung Order and Kim Jong Il Order, the highest orders in our country, Kim Il Sung Prize, Kim Jong Il Prize, the title of the Labor Hero of the DPRK and Gold Medal (Hammer and Sickle) and Order of National Flag First Class, and watches bearing the august names of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il.

All the participants congratulated the recipients with loud applauses.

Kim Jong Un looked round the exhibition together with the participants.

The exhibition is an epitome of the powerful defence capabilities of the DPRK as it mainly includes all kinds of weapons and equipment developed and produced by it in recent five years.

Looking round with deep emotion the arms and equipment associated with the soul of Juche and which are as valuable as living organism pulsating with the breaths of defence scientists, workers in the munitions field and all the people of the country, the General Secretary once again spoke highly of the soldiers in the defence field loyal to our Party who devoted their patriotism and loyalty to the sacred cause of the national history for consolidating the world's most powerful defence capabilities for self-defence as firm as a rock.

In commemoration of the exhibition which would be specially recorded in the history of our Party and the nation, he had a significant photo taken with the leading officials in the field of defence science and then with the parachutist and combat pilots of the Air and Anti-Aircraft Force of the Korean People's Army who creditably performed stunt flight and landing duties.

The exhibition venue full of warm and close feelings between the leader and soldiers sharing bitters and sweets in the militant journey for building a powerful and prosperous country stirred with great pride, honor and happiness of the participants over time.

All the participants felt deep reverence for Kim Jong Un who opened up the era of the most dignified powerful country, the era of our state-first principle in the nation's history spanning 5 000 years with his steel-strong faith, pluck, far-sighted wisdom and unusual leadership ability, while sharing stories about his field leadership history associated with the invincible weapons and equipment vividly reflective of the dignity and spirit of the powerful country of Juche.

The exhibition will be a meaningful occasion of adding faith in invincibility and vitality to the indefatigable historic advance of our people for the overall prosperity of our own-style socialism, and of greatly encouraging the defence scientists and workers in the munitions field who are making devoted struggle to attain the goal of modernizing the defence industry set forth at the 8th Congress of the Party.