Military Parade and Public Procession of Pyongyang Citizens Held

A military parade and public procession of Pyongyang citizens took place with splendour in Pyongyang on October 10 to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

DPRK Marshal Kim Jong Un, First Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, First Chairman of the National  Defence Commission of the DPRK and Supreme Commander  of  the  Korean  People’s  Army, arrived  at Kim Il Sung Square and reviewed the guards of honour of the Ground, Naval, Air and Anti-Aircraft Force of the Korean People’s Army and the Worker-Peasant Red Guards.

Amidst the playing of welcome music supreme leader Kim Jong Un appeared on the platform.

He waved in acknowledgment of the cheering paraders and other crowds, and extended warm congratulations and militant greetings to the entire army and people who were greeting the 70th founding anniversary of the WPK.

Hwang Pyong So, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Ryong Hae and other senior officials of the Party and the army, officials of the Party Central Committee, chief secretaries of provincial Party committees and commanding officers of the Korean People’s Army were seen on the platform.

The platform was also taken by Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Present there were Kim Yong Nam, Pak Pong Ju, Yang Hyong Sop and other senior officials of the State and the army and the heads of visiting foreign political party delegations.

The guards of honour and the combined military band of the KPA held a starting ritual, presenting the Party emblem and several words in succession.

The flags of the DPRK and the WPK were hoisted amidst the playing of the Patriotic Song and Long Live the Workers’ Party of Korea.

The Chief of the KPA General Staff reviewed the parade units, congratulating them on the 70th birthday of the WPK.

He then gave a salute to Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un for the start of the military parade.

A bugle call rang out to signal the start of the parade.

Song of General Kim Il Sung and Song of General Kim Jong Il were played amidst the boom of a 70-gun salute.

Kim Jong Un delivered a congratulatory speech.

Amid the playing of songs, the flags bearing the portraits of the beaming images of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il appeared on the square escorted by the KPA service personnel.

The guards of honour of the KPA Ground, Naval, Air and Anti-Aircraft Force and the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and all other paraders paid highest respect to the flags of the great leaders.

Then the military parade started.

In the wake of the columns of paraders representing the periods of the anti-Japanese armed struggle and building of a regular armed force after national liberation, columns which performed distinguished feats during the Fatherland Liberation War, including those of guards units, political workers and young guards, marched through the square in proud array to the tune of military music.

Amidst the playing of July 27 March the columns of the units which have so far rendered outstanding services for the good of the Party and the leader, the country and the people since the end of the war passed by in high spirits.

Followed by them were seen those columns of cadets of military academies of different levels, units of the Ground, Navy and Air and Anti-aircraft Force and Strategic Force of the KPA, those of airwomen, those of special and other arms and services, and those of students of revolutionary schools, heirs to the Songun revolution. Kim Jong Un waved back to the paraders.

The KPA airplanes with a formation of the emblem of the WPK and the number 70 flew across the square filled with the ever-victorious spirit of Songun Korea.

Followed by the column of the members of the Paektusan Hero Youth Shock Brigade who demonstrated the spirit of a youth power, the one and only one in the world, came the columns of the members of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the members of the Young Red Guards and the Korean Children’s Union, successors to and reliable reserves of the Korean revolution.

Then the columns of mechanized units equipped with guns, armoured vehicles, tanks, unmanned air strikers and strategic rockets marched to the tune of military music, followed by those engaged in the field of munitions industry.

In the end the column of the marching military band passed, playing revolutionary military music and forming the word victory. Meanwhile, five airplanes flew across the square and the Taedong River, jetting out tri-colour smoke.

The military parade was followed by the public procession of Pyongyang citizens.

Amidst the playing of the song The Leader and the General Will Always Be with Us several columns of people from all walks of life entered the square with props and slogan boards, following the column carrying the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

On the square the words such as “Kim Il Sung”, “Kim Jong Il”, “Kim Jong Un” and “Celebration 70”, and the flags of the Party and the DPRK were formed in succession.

The combined military band adorned the end of the procession, changing their formation uniquely to the tune of Ode to General Kim Jong Un and forming the star of Marshal, a symbol of victory and glory, and the word defence.

As soon as the procession was over, a thunderous applause broke out, balloons were released and a salute of guns was fired.

At the balcony of the platform Kim Jong Un waved back to the cheering crowd.