Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), reviewed soldiers of the Korean People's Army(KPA) during a great military parade in Pyongyang April 25, 2002.
The parade was held in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and the 70th anniversary of the Korean People's Army. Columns of the worker-peasant red guards, the young red guards, revolutionary schools and military academies of the KPA lined up on Kim Il Sung Square in the heart of the capital city and boulevards leading to it.
Amid the solemn playing of the national anthem and the song "comrade Kim Jong Il is our supreme commander," the flag of the DPRK and the flag of the supreme commander of the KPA were hoisted.
Amid the playing of welcome music, General Secretary Kim Jong Il appeared on the tribune of honour at 9 o'clock.
The moment, stormy cheers of "hurrah" burst forth, fireworks were displayed and thousands of balloons soared into the sky, beautifully decorating the sky.
The immortal revolutionary paean "Song of General Kim Il Sung" was played while a 21-gun salute boomed.
KPA vice marshal Kim Il Chol, vice-chairman of the NDC of the DPRK and minister of the People's Armed Forces, made a speech.
The minister of the People's Armed Forces and the chief commanding officer of the parade rode past the columns of the paraders, congratulating them on the 70th anniversary of the heroic KPA.
Amid the playing of military music, a column of worker-peasant red guards in Pyongyang, columns of the worker-peasant red guards in each province (municipality), columns of the young red guards and those of the revolutionary schools marched past in fine array, shaking the square.
Kim Jong Il raised his hand high each time a column of paraders marched past the tribune.
As the parade was over, Kim Jong Il waved from the balcony to the enthusiastically cheering crowd when the stormy cheers of "hurrah" burst forth and thousands of balloons soared into the sky.
( April 27, 2002)
