Kim Jong Un makes commemorative speech at opening ceremony

The defence development exhibition “Self-Defence-2021” was opened in splendour at the Three-Revolution Exhibition House in Pyongyang on October 11 on the occasion of the 76th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the WPK and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, attended the opening ceremony.

Present at the ceremony were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK Choe Ryong Hae, Jo Yong Won, Kim Tok Hun and Pak Jong Chon.

Also present were Ri Il Hwan, Jong Sang Hak, O Su Yong, Thae Hyong Chol, Kim Jae Ryong, O Il Jong, Kim Yong Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Kim Song Nam, Ho Chol Man, Pak Thae Dok, Kim Hyong Sik, Yu Jin, Pak Myong Sun, Ri Chol Man, Jon Hyon Chol, Pak Jong Gun, Yang Sung Ho, Ju Chol Gyu, Ri Son Gwon, Jang Jong Nam, U Sang Chol, Kim Yong Hwan and other Party and government officials and leading officials of the Cabinet, ministries and working people’s organizations.

Kwon Yong Jin, Ri Yong Gil, Rim Kwang Il and other leading officials of the armed forces organs, and commanders of the combined units of all services of the Korean People’s Army also took part in the ceremony.

Present there at invitation were meritorious officials, scientists and technicians in the national defence industry sector.

Prior to the opening ceremony, there was a distinctive rite of the combined military band.

Then there was a martial art demonstration performed by combatants of the People’s Army.

They creditably performed combat actions and methods to be applauded by the spectators.

A top-notch parachutist showed landing skills, fluttering the red Party flag in the sky.

There was a stunt flight of fighter pilots in the sky above the venue.

The spectators kept cheering at the air squadron as the pilots fully demonstrated the art of flying they cultivated through day-to-day training while skilfully performing various aerial combat flight actions like buzzing, perpendicular zooming and reversal.

Then the opening ceremony began.

As the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un mounted the platform together with the leading officials and meritorious workers in the field of national defence science, thunderous cheers resounded throughout the venue of the exhibition.

Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, made an opening speech.

The national anthem of the DPRK was solemnly played as the exhibition was declared open.

Kim Jong Un made a commemorative speech at the exhibition.

He said that the grand exhibition is an intensive and intuitive reminder of the great ambition and leadership and practical executive abilities of the Party ushering in a new turning point in building up the national defence capabilities by invariably maintaining the invincible line of self-defence, and is also a striking manifestation of the state power as important as a large-scale military parade as it demonstrates the marvellous aspects of development that the DPRK has attained in defence science and the munitions industry and their shining prospects.

Recalling the path of effecting a revolution in the defence industry in a do-or-die spirit, the untrodden path, which the Party had to take in the past five years, the General Secretary referred to the validity of the Party’s defence policy which set the buildup of the defence capabilities as a prerequisite and vital state affair which has to be maintained all the time, and ardently appealed to the people to devote themselves both physically and mentally as well as their wisdom and enthusiasm to the sacred cause of consolidating the defence capabilities of the great country in every way.

At the ceremony, commendations were awarded to those who made distinguished services for the development of the defence capabilities of the country.

Kim Jong Un personally conferred Kim Il Sung Order and Kim Jong Il Order, the highest orders in the country, Kim Il Sung Prize, Kim Jong Il Prize, the title of Labour Hero of the DPRK and Gold Medal (Hammer and Sickle) and Order of National Flag 1st Class, and watches bearing the names of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Un looked round the exhibition hall together with the participants.

The exhibition is an epitome of the powerful defence capabilities of the DPRK as it mainly shows various kinds of weapons and military equipment developed and produced in the country in the recent five years.

Looking round with deep emotion the weapons and equipment one by one, the General Secretary once again spoke highly of the WPK’s faithful soldiers in the defence science field who devoted their patriotism and loyalty to the sacred cause to be etched in the history of the nation for consolidating the most powerful self-defence capabilities in the world.

In commemoration of the exhibition which would be specially recorded in the history of the Party and the nation, he had photos taken with the leading officials in the field of defence science and then with the parachutist and combat pilots of the Air and Anti-Aircraft Force of the Korean People’s Army who performed stunt flight and landing duties.