Kim Jong Sik and Jang Chang Ha were present there.

The venue of the photo session was seething with the great joy and excitement of the participants who were to have a significant photo taken, which will be the one of their lifetime honor, under the loving care of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, amid the best wishes of the people across the country. They are filled with the great pride and honor of having produced a core nuclear strike means representing the DPRK strategic forces as a great creation of self-reliance born of our own efforts in the course of the sacred struggle of sharpening the treasured sword for defending the dignity and sovereignty and peace of the country.

As he came to the venue, all the participants broke into thunderous cheers of "hurrah!", paying highest tribute to him representing the mightiness of Juche Korea and the ever-victorious banner, who brought about the remarkable event of demonstrating once again the innovative development of the country's defence capabilities all over the world with the faith of Mt Paektu, steel-strong will and extraordinary leadership ability.

He sent militant salute of warm congratulations to the reliable soldiers in the defence field who made a contribution to consolidating the war deterrent, more perfect and stronger, for reliably defending the security and future of the country and the people with the indomitable spirit, boundless devotion and matchless creativity whereby they have wrought unprecedented miracles to meet any demand of the Party and the revolution, unconditionally and absolutely supporting it.

He sent warm congratulations and all glory to our great people who built the absolute force of self-defence which can not be bartered nor be bought with anything and held it firm themselves without the slightest vacillation though they underwent harsh trials and difficulties.

He said that this signal development of the Juche-based national defense would have been unthinkable without the trust and ardent patriotism of all the people who rendered unconditional and absolute support and encouragement to the indispensable sacred cause of building up the nuclear war deterrence of the country.

We must be strong under whatever circumstances to defend peace, accelerate socialist construction and be responsible for the security of the rising generations, free from any threat, he said. He expressed once again our Party’s will for building the strong defence capabilities to defend the security and future of our country and people by dint of absolutely firmer, more perfect and stronger strategic force.

The defence capabilities in the true sense of the word precisely mean the powerful striking capabilities, he said.

He said that only when one is equipped with the formidable striking capabilities, overwhelming military power that cannot be stopped by anyone, one can prevent a war, guarantee the security of the country and contain and put under control all threats and blackmails by the imperialists. He continued that we will continue to attain the goal of reinforcing national defense capabilities, develop more of powerful strike means to make our People’s Army equip with them.

The unyielding revolutionary spirit and exceptional patriotism displayed by the defence industry scientists and technicians and the munitions industry workers who are devotedly carrying into practice the Party's unique idea on the self-reliant defence strategy are the inexhaustible strength of our Party, he said, expressing his expectation and conviction that they would as ever strive with redoubled courage for the development and security of our great state and the victorious advance of our revolutionary cause, and thus more vigorously perfect the nuclear war deterrence of the country.

Encouraged by his deep trust and warm benevolence, all the participants made their firm pledge to steadily and vigorously attain the ultra-modern goals for bolstering up the defence capabilities so as to make the military technological advantages, the overwhelming strength possessed by Juche Korea, further irreversible with intense loyalty to the Party Central Committee's grand plan and determination.

The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea gave a reception for the officials, scientists, technicians and workers in the field of defence industry who contributed to successfully test-firing the new type ICBM Hwasongpho-17.