On the day, a Pyongyang city mass rally took place with splendor in a public playground at the foot of Moran Hill, now occupied by Kim Il Sung Stadium, to welcome the President on his triumphal return to the homeland after achieving the historic cause of national liberation.

All streets of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, were immersed in joy and glee at that time. Not only Pyongyangites but also many people of different strata from across the country and even south Koreans thronged to the public playground at dawn.

When the President appeared on the platform, stormy cheers of "Long live General Kim Il Sung!" swept the public playground.

The President wrote in his reminiscences "With the Century":

Standing on the platform amidst the enthusiastic cheers of more than 100,000 people, I felt happiness that defied description by any flowery language. If anyone asked me about the happiest moment in my life, I would reply that it was that moment. It was happiness emanating from the pride that I had fought for the people as a son of the people, from the feeling that the people loved and trusted me and from the fact that I was in the embrace of the people.

In his historic speech, the President appealed to all members of the Korean nation to positively contribute to the nation building, those with strength giving strength, those with knowledge giving knowledge and those with money giving money. He said that all the people who truly love their country, nation and democracy should unite closely and build an independent and sovereign democratic state.

Standing in front of Kim Il Sung Stadium is the Arch of Triumph built in April 1982.