All the civilians and service personnel in the DPRK, who have striven to fulfil the dreams and ideals of a powerful nation and accomplish the great cause of building a prosperous country with strong army under the guidance of the great Workers’ Party of Korea injecting eternal lifeblood into the Juche revolution pioneered in Mt Paektu, are significantly commemorating the auspicious day of significance in the nation’s history when their revolutionary armed forces took roots, full of boundless pride and confidence.
A grand military parade to be specially recorded in the country’s history was held at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital city of Pyongyang on April 25, the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army, the first revolutionary armed force of a Juche type.
The square, the venue for demonstrating to the world the proud history and invincible might of the Korean revolutionary armed forces which have emerged victorious, carrying forward the great idea and spirit and the precious exploits and traditions, with their origin in Mt Paektu associated with the 5 000-year-long-cherished desire, was brightened by a great number of spotlights.
The military parade began with a magnificent demonstration of skills by the dependable paratroopers who landed on the square, fluttering a large national flag.
The State Merited Chorus in charge of playing music for the parade entered the square.
And the combined military band entered the square, playing military music and changing formations to portray two pistols showing the origin of the revolutionary armed forces, the numbers “4.25.”, “90” and others, the emblem of the Party and the letters “Ongwi” (safeguard) at the square.
April 25 Juche 21(1932) was the day when the dawn of national liberation was brought to the Korean people who had been deprived of even their language and names for having no army to defend the territory of their nation.
President Kim Il Sung, the legendary hero of the anti-Japanese war, founded the KPRA on that day.
The ceremonial performance of the combined military band revved up the celebration atmosphere with lively melodies and powerful rhythmic movements showing that the glorious history of a-match-for-a-hundred revolutionary army, which has emerged victorious in the confrontation with the most outrageous and formidable imperialist enemies for 90 years, and the traditions of the army strong in idea and faith, rare to be seen in other parts of the world, the revolutionary army of the Party, began that day.
Parade columns of the powerful elite army proudly entered the square to the tune of the grand parade orchestral music for victory, demonstrating the might of the DPRK dashing ahead like the storm in the face of manifold difficulties.
The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK have accumulated the absolute power never to be overlooked by the world.
The paraders were filled with the pride in defending the security of the great Party, the great country and the great people.
Columns of cutting-edge military hardware were on standby on the avenues to the square. They showed well the appearance of the armed forces of the DPRK that have dramatically developed from the first armed group of Koreans who declared death-defying resistance against aggressors with only 100-odd rifles on the day 90 years ago.
Air squadrons of the Air Force impregnably defending the airspace of the country with a sacred mission of safeguarding the Party and the revolution were waiting for their sorties.
All the paraders were looking up to the tribune of honour of the square with great honour and excitement as they were to be reviewed by Kim Jong Un, the outstanding leader of the Juche revolution, symbol of the mightiness of the Party and state and representative of great dignity.
When Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, president of the State Affairs of the DPRK and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, arrived at the square together with his wife Ri Sol Ju, a solemn ceremony of receiving him was held by the honour guard of the Korean People’s Army.
After receiving a salute from the chief of the honour guard, Kim Jong Un reviewed the honour guard and the glorious colours of the large combined units.
The outstanding supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK who is an ever-victorious iron-willed brilliant commander was greeted by senior officials of the Ministry of National Defence and commanders of the large combined units and combined units of the KPA.
Army commanders paid their highest respects out of deep gratitude to Kim Jong Un who made sure that the Korean revolutionary armed forces, the pivot of the national defence capabilities and the strong fortress for safeguarding the revolution and the country, demonstrated their military and political might through a significant parade on their founding day.
Amid the playing of the welcome music, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, together with his wife Ri Sol Ju, took the tribune of the square.
At that moment, cheers of “Hurrah!” and chants of “Kim Jong Un” and “Kyolsaongwi” (devoted defence) rocked the square.
He waved back to the enthusiastically cheering paraders and spectators.
Kim Jong Un and his wife were presented with bunches of flowers by members of the Children’s Union.
Taking the tribune were Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Ri Pyong Chol, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, and Ri Yong Gil, Kwon Yong Jin, Rim Kwang Il and other senior officials of the armed forces organs, commanders and political commissars of the large combined units and commanders of the combined units.
Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Jo Yong Won, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary for Organizational Affairs of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, took the reserved seats for VIPs.
The tribune was taken by Ri Il Hwan, Jong Sang Hak, O Su Yong, Thae Hyong Chol, Kim Jae Ryong, Kim Yong Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Pak Jong Gun, O Il Jong, Ho Chol Man, Pak Thae Dok, Kim Hyong Sik, Yu Jin, Pak Myong Sun, Ri Chol Man, Kim Song Nam, Jon Hyon Chol, Ju Chol Gyu, Ri Son Gwon, Ri Thae Sop, U Sang Chol, Kim Yong Hwan and other senior Party and government officials.
Present at invitation were Ri Myong Su, Thae Jong Su, Choe Yong Rim, Kim Kyong Ok and other veterans who had worked for a long time in the Party, the government and the military.
Taking the reserved seats were the participants in the celebrations of the 90th founding anniversary of the KPRA.
There was a solemn ceremony of hoisting a national flag.
A column of women depicting a five-pointed star, the cap badge of anti-Japanese guerrillas, entered the square to the tune of the song Our National Flag.
Drones depicted a large national flag.
When the column arrived at the middle of the square, members of the KPA honour guard emerged from it and marched towards the flagstaff with the spread national flag.
Amid the chorus of the national anthem of the DPRK, the national flag reflecting the invincible might of the country and all the miracles, victory and the bright future of the people was hoisted.
This flag was hoisted in the sky of new Korea for the first time after President Kim Il Sung liberated the country through hard-fought anti-Japanese war. It is the flag of socialist Korea Chairman Kim Jong Il defended, overcoming the tempests of history, and the flag of the dignified powerful country which has grown stronger, performing world-startling miracles and changes under the distinguished leadership of Kim Jong Un.
With their hearts burning with the strong will to proudly fly the flag symbolizing the soul and stamina of Mt Paektu and the destiny of the people and to warmly love and add lustre forever to most valuable Korean-style socialism, the genuine people’s country, all the participants solemnly looked up to the national flag.
Fireworks were displayed in the sky where the DPRK flag was fluttering.
And a salute of 21 guns boomed amid the playing of the song The Glorious Country.
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a celebration speech.
Referring to the profound and great significance of the birth of the first genuine armed forces of Korea 90 years ago in the history of the Korean revolution and nation and in the future development of the state and people, he said that the arms of the revolution held by fine sons and daughters of the Korean people in the forests of Mt Paektu were an expression of the ever-growing Korean nation’s spirit of independence, hope and the banner of great unity and the motive force that provided the Koreans with the spirit of self-respect and invincible strength.
He stressed that as long as the hearts of all the officers and men of the DPRK armed forces are pulsating with the thick blood and precious soul of the revolutionary forerunners and the revolutionary armed forces always stand in the van of the revolution as the paragons of the idea and will of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the power of the state and people, the socialist cause will always emerge victorious in the future, too. He ardently called for vigorously struggling for the wellbeing and happiness of the great people and the eternal glory and victory of the great state.
Hearing his touching speech, all the participants burst into stormy cheers with high national pride in having the peerlessly brilliant commander and the high glory of having the revolutionary armed forces which have devotedly preserved the lineage of the Korean revolution and the idea and cause of the WPK and reliably guaranteed the existence and development of the state and the happiness of the people.
Then, preparations for the parade were reviewed.
Vice Marshal of the KPA Ri Yong Gil, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, made a report to KPA Marshal Pak Jong Chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, that parade units were ready to be reviewed.
Pak Jong Chon reviewed the parade units.
He courteously reported to the General Secretary of the WPK that the military parade for marking the 90th founding anniversary of the KPRA was ready to start.
The columns of the armed forces of the DPRK, which were founded in the flames of the anti-Japanese war and have strengthened into a matchless elite army and a revolutionary army of the Party, recording only victory and glory in its history, began marching.
The column of honorary cavalrymen entered the square.
Honorary cavalrymen, reminding the spectators of the spirit and mettle of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army which used to appear in the east and in the west at the same time to confuse and annihilate the enemy under the guidance of General Kim Il Sung who commanded the anti-Japanese guerrilla army on a white horse, rode past the square.
A column of soldiers representing the period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle, when the first generation of the revolutionary armed forces set a shining example of devotedly protecting the leader for the first time in history and established the traditions of winning victory with idea and faith, marched past the square with a red flag fluttering.
Then a column of soldiers representing the period of the Fatherland Liberation War proudly marched with dignity under the colours associated with the immortal feats of the heroic soldiers in the 1950s who performed an unprecedented military miracle by defeating with rifles the enemy armed with atomic bombs, carrying forward the great traditions of victory in the anti-Japanese revolutionary war that witnessed the defeat of the gangster-like Japanese imperialists’ one million-strong army which regarded the KPRA as “a drop in the ocean”.
Columns of marchers passed the square one after another, reminding the spectators of the great years when the soldiers of the KPA achieved miraculous victories, unheard-of in the world war history, in ground, air and sea battles of the three-year-long hard-fought war against the barbaric aggression by the US imperialists.
Columns of soldiers under the Guard Office of the Party Central Committee and the Guard Department of the State Affairs Commission standing guard over the supreme general staff of the Korean revolution vigorously marched past the square, vividly representing the revolutionary character and the eternal mission for the nation of the armed forces of the DPRK.
The columns of soldiers under the Guard Department and the Guard Command showcased their will to become the very bodyguards and bulletproof wall that devotedly defend the Party Central Committee true to the noble spirit of the bodyguards of the anti-Japanese guerrilla army who devotedly defended the headquarters of the revolution.
The column of the 1st Corps, the strongest corps of the People’s Army called the corps of tigers in Mt Paektu defending the eastern sector of the front, marched past the square fluttering the colours of elite divisions whose mere names strike fear into the enemies.
The columns of the 2nd Corps that gave birth to the spirit of a-match-for-a-hundred combatants and the 4th Corps, the frontline corps in the west, marched in a fine array under the colours of divisions and brigades that smashed every reckless military provocation of the enemies with telling blows.
The column of the 5th Corps in charge of the central sector of the front fully represented the spirit of the frontline service personnel to annihilate the enemy, performing military exploits while standing guard over the outpost of the country and the revolution like the guardsmen who made their way through the flames of war.
Marching with gallantry to the tune of song of the revolutionary army were navy and air force columns holding aloft the colours of the naval fleets, being hailed as the death-defying corps of the sea and the unsinkable battleship, and of the air force divisions displaying their might as the shields in the sky and the red goshawks.
Following the energetically marching missile maintenance crew members of the strategic force column, the symbol of the irresistible might of the DPRK armed forces, the special operations force column, always ready to deal crushing blows to the enemy in any operation space of the land, sea or air when the time for a decisive battle comes, entered the square.
Kim Jong Un extended a warm military salute to the service personnel in major thrusts, the core unit which acts as the backbone of the revolutionary armed forces and firmly defends the very forefront of national defence.
The parade members chanted “Hurrah!” for the iron-willed brilliant commander, who ushers in a great golden age of bolstering military muscle of the country while strengthening the People’s Army remarkably into invincible revolutionary vanguard ranks braving difficulties with the spirit of Mt Paektu, a revolutionary army of the Party modelled on the WPK and ultra-modern forces, holding high the banner of modelling the whole army on Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism.
Columns of the Anti-aircraft Artillery Corps, the 91st Corps and the 3rd Corps of the KPA impregnably defending Pyongyang, the heart of the Korean revolution where the Party Central Committee is situated, were followed by the columns of other corps defending the east and west coastal areas, the northern areas and border gateways.
Then columns of tanks and armoured vehicle divisions and motorized infantry divisions including the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Tank Division and the 425th Motorized Infantry Division of the KPA, powerful strike groups that are prepared to immediately secure any strategic areas indicated by the Supreme Headquarters, marched proudly under the uplifted sacred colours bearing the letters “April 25”, displaying the might of the invincible Paektusan revolutionary army that stoutly preserves the glorious traditions of the anti-Japanese war.
Marching past the tribune of the square were columns of scouts and mountain infantry known as versatile and brave fighters, those of specialists’ units such as the electronic harassment operations unit, columns of Kim Il Sung Military University which is the highest institute of military education guaranteeing the eternal might and invincibility of the revolutionary armed forces, Kim Jong Il University of Military and Politics which is a centre for training the highest-ranking military commanding officers in the country, Kim Il Sung University of Politics which greatly contributes to making the KPA politically, ideologically and morally stronger, and Kim Jong Un University of National Defence which makes a distinguished contribution to training of persons talented in the Juche-based defence science and technology, and columns of military schools at all levels.
The marchers were full of the steadfast resolution to readily die a heroic death for the great commander who gives ever-lasting life with warm feeling, passion, love and trust and teaches strategy of victory and exceptional bravery.
Cheers bursting out of the backbone of the elite army, brave soldiers of the powerful country who were filled with great honour of being reviewed by Marshal Kim Jong Un, the illustrious commander, rocked the square.
Columns of students at revolutionary schools who have prepared themselves as pillars of the Juche revolution while reliably succeeding to the lineage of Mangyongdae, the lineage of Paektu at the educational institutions for the sons and daughters of revolutionary martyrs associated with the idea of continuous revolution and love for the younger generation and future of the WPK went past to the tune of a parade march.
A column of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, which have strengthened into reliable armed forces for safeguarding the socialist country and defending hometowns by inheriting the tradition of all-people resistance created during the anti-Japanese war, marched past the square, carrying the flags of provincial worker-peasant red guards with the chief secretary of the Pyongyang Municipal Party Committee as its head and the chief secretaries of provincial Party committees in the van.
A column of the Ministry of State Security which has demonstrated its might as a dependable political security force of the Party reliably protecting the precious gains of the socialist country and the people’s wellbeing and as an elite unit playing a part of the revolutionary armed forces, columns of the traffic security women, the tracker dog search party and the special mobile corps of the Public Security Forces and a column of emergency epidemic prevention workers passed the square.
Kim Jong Un raised his hands to encourage the marchers who have carried forward the noble tradition of remaining faithful to their mission for defending the leader, the social system and the people in the stern annals of the revolution to reliably safeguard the outposts of class struggle.
Thunderous cheers of “Hurrah!” raised by parade members resounded through the sky over the square, amplifying the immutable truth that the destiny of the country and the happiness of the people and the ever-victory of the Korean revolution are guaranteed by defending the Party Central Committee.
Then the flight parade of the KPA Air Force began.
Air squadrons, in formations depicting the five-pointed star and laurel tree, flew past the sky above the square while letting off fireworks to brighten the sky.
The spectators raised cheers, feasting their eyes on the air squadrons making minimum-altitude flights and displaying such aeronautics as zooming.
While letting off the fireworks, a squadron in a fan-shape formation left the trails reflecting the ardent will of the combat pilots to devotedly defend the Party Central Committee with fervent loyalty to it.
Amid the endless expression of trust in the heroic KPA, the vanguard ranks of loyalty which follow the path indicated by the Party Central Committee after entrusting their destiny totally to it, the columns of mechanized units began their advance.
The columns of latest tactical missile units entered the square in the spirit of smashing the enemy’ aggression war hardware at once with high mobility and annihilating blows, fluttering their colours.
The column of prototype tanks, a symbol of the strong combat power of the KPA and its iron fist, roared past the square.
The square was full of strong courage and militant enthusiasm of Korean tankmen who will sweep away everything in their way and fly the flag of victory before anyone else when the moment of the decisive battle comes, following the traditions of the guard tank units that braved the flames of the Fatherland Liberation War.
The reliable artillery pieces, the first arm of the People’s Army and the most powerful arm in the world, moved past the square reflecting the will to reduce the enemy position into a sea of flames and set off the fireworks of victory once the Party Central Committee issues an order to fire.
The great Comrade Kim Jong Un advanced the outstanding military idea and theory that the true defence capabilities precisely mean strong attack capabilities and has built up the great attack capabilities and overwhelming military capabilities for preventing war, ensuring the national security and surely containing and controlling any threats and blackmail by the imperialists.
Iron-clad ranks that have developed into invincible, ultra-modern offensive strike groups under the care of the gifted military strategist and peerlessly illustrious commander appeared at the square.
A column of super-large MLRS, one of absolute weaponry of the DPRK without an equal in other parts of the world that is capable of carrying out a scorched-earth operation any moment through successive strike with major targets of strike in the operational zone in its firing range roared past the square.
Columns of strategic missiles entered the square, demonstrating the strong capabilities for executing a war, the abilities to react to any warfare in the sky, land, sea and outer space and decisively contain and frustrate the enemy.
WPK-style Juche-based weapons, the dear ones inspiring great confidence and eternal treasure of the Korean nation never to be bartered for anything, appeared one after another.
The invincible country is demonstrating its might as a military power that has perfect and powerful deterrent for self-defence under the outstanding guidance of the great Comrade Kim Jong Un who accomplished the historic great cause of completing the nuclear forces by making a long journey of patriotic devotion with a death-defying will in order to make sure that the people would eternally enjoy happiness free from the horrors of war generation after generation.
The spectators raised enthusiastic cheers, feasting their eyes on the Juche-based weapons symbolic of the truth that a country and an army that firmly preserve, carry forward and accomplish the revolution with a great origin and history and the cause pioneered by the leader always emerge victorious, and the absolute weaponry that vividly reflects the appearance of the country as an advanced, modern, heroic and brave country.
Amid the playing of solemn music and focusing of spotlights and display of fireworks, a great entity representing the strategic forces of the DPRK appeared at the square.
At that moment the spectators raised loud cheers, greatly excited to see the giant ICBM Hwasongpho-17 which soared into sky on March 24 to demonstrate the absolute power of Juche Korea and the strategic position of the DPRK to the world.
They extended highest glory to Kim Jong Un, great champion of justice and peace and peerless hero who has built up the national power, the greatest ever since the founding of the country, and ushered in the era of the most dignified powerful country in the nation’s history of 5 000 years, the era of the our-state-first principle by leading the country and its people with his outstanding ideology, leadership, passionate love and absolute trust.
The most powerful weapons in the world that represent the soul of Juche, patriotism of all the people and the great strength eternally guaranteeing the future of the country and the nation rolled past the square, fully demonstrating the unshakable will of the Party and people to more dynamically and more vigorously accelerate the continued development of the capabilities for self-defence and war deterrent that constitute the bedrock of the existence of the state and guarantee for its development.
When the military parade ended, all the participants again broke into thunderous cheers of “Hurrah!” and fireworks were let off.
Spectacular fireworks let off in the middle of the Taedong River and from different parts of the square colorfully decorated the nocturnal sky of April.
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering crowds.
The square was overflowing with the revolutionary enthusiasm of all the participants to remain loyal to him only with a firm faith that the Korean revolution pioneered by the President and Korean-style socialism preserved under the leadership of the Chairman remain unfazed and an immensely rosy future is in store for the country thanks to the respected General Secretary.
The military parade for celebrating the 90th founding anniversary of the KPRA served as an event of great significance that demonstrated once again before the world the invincibility, mightiness and radical development of the armed forces of the DPRK that guarantees the succession and implementation of the revolutionary cause of Juche, while demonstrating the might as the revolutionary army of the Party that remains absolutely loyal to the idea and leadership of the WPK and as the reliable defender of peace, and marked a historic occasion for greatly encouraging the Korean people in their heroic struggle for adding glory to the great era of Kim Jong Un and a new era of building a prosperous and powerful nation.
KCNA
