Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- A torchlight gala of members of the youth vanguard "Let the Youth Power March forward Following the Party!" was held with splendor at the May Day Stadium on Sunday to mark the 9th Congress of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League.

    When Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, appeared at the tribune of honor, all participants enthusiastically welcomed him, extending the highest glory and warmest thanks to him.

    He waved back to the enthusiastic cheers of the masses, extending warm congratulations and militant salute to the young vanguard.

    Among the spectators were Hwang Pyong So, Choe Ryong Hae, Kim Ki Nam and others, the participants of the 9th congress and youth and students and working people in Pyongyang, the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front and overseas Koreans.

    Diplomatic envoys and representatives of international bodies, members of the military attaches corps here and foreign guests were present there on invitation.

    Amid the playing of the song "Baton of Revolution," three youths and students lit the flame holder, reflecting the pledge made by the 5 million members of the youth vanguard.

    When open cars carrying flags bearing the portraits of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il entered the venue of the gala, escorted by members of the young vanguard, the participants broke into cheers of "hurrah!" and the august names of the peerlessly great men of Mt. Paektu and the letters "Youth league of eternal sun" were projected.

    The letters "August 28, 1927," "January 17, 1946" and "January 19, 1996" and Mt. Paektu showing the exploits of the peerlessly great men to go down in the history of the Korean youth movement were shown by change of torch formations.

    The letters "Hanbyol", "Shining Star" and "Young Vanguard" were depicted to represent the will of the youth to fully demonstrate the might of the youth power of Mt. Paektu while absolutely trusting and following Marshal Kim Jong Un only just as the passionate youths of the preceding generations devotedly defended the great leaders, holding them in high esteem as the center of the leadership and unity.

    Youth and students truthfully represented with torchlight the fact that the loving care being shown by the mother Party to make the young people ones envied by the world, true to the noble intention of the leaders, is just the one shown by Kim Jong Un.

    Formations and rhythms of torch holders were presented to depict the revolutionary mettle of the youths to steadily work miracles and make uninterrupted advance by creating the Mallima speed in the 200-day campaign of loyalty to make a breakthrough in carrying out the 5-year strategy for national economic development.

    Ranks of torch holders depicted the letters "Lineage of Mt. Paektu", "Reserves", "Advancing Group", "Wing" and "Safeguarding of Leader."

    Letters "May torchlight of youth power last forever!" were depicted.

    When the gala was over, the participants broke into cheers of "hurrah!" again.

    Kim Jong Un waved back to the young vanguard.

    He extended thanks to all the performers, creators, instructors and officials, saying with high appreciation that the torch gala of the young vanguard is the highest in organizational ability, discipline and artistry.

    The newly created song "Hymn of Youth" was played and youth and students presented dance.

    Fireworks were displayed to gorgeously decorate the nocturnal sky above the stadium. -0-