Pyongyang, July 27 (KCNA) -- The 8th National Conference of War Veterans took place here on July 26 amid the noble respect and congratulations of all the people across the country to the veterans.

Attending it were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Also present were senior party and government officials, leading officials of the armed forces organs, participants in the Fatherland Liberation War, lecturers in the field of revolutionary history of war victory, students of revolutionary schools, service personnel of the DPRK armed forces, working people, youth and students.

When the war veterans entered the venue, successors to the great war victory greeted them with applause.

Jo Yong Won, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary for Organizational Affairs of the WPK Central Committee, read out a congratulatory message from the WPK Central Committee to the war veterans throughout the country greeting the great war victory day.

In the congratulatory message the WPK Central Committee offered warm congratulations to the war veterans throughout the country who honorably defended the sovereignty and dignity of the Republic by displaying matchless bravery in the hard-fought Fatherland Liberation War under the outstanding leadership of President Kim Il Sung and pioneered the heroic fighting spirit and traditions of victory to be glorified generation after generation.

Saying that the great war victory etched in history the philosophy that the power of the single-hearted unity, in which the leader believes in the people and the people follow the leader, is more powerful than anything else, and proved through a legendary heroic myth that a rifle, fully charged with idea, is stronger than any other modern weaponry, and developed the spirit of self-sustenance and self-development pioneered in the anti-Japanese armed struggle into the all-people ideology and will, the congratulatory message referred to its historical significance.

The defenders of the country in the 1950s, the resolute and faithful fighters who went through thick and thin in hearty response to the Party's call, the core of the Workers' Party of Korea whose strong faith were verified in the stern tempest of history and typical genuine patriots who dedicated themselves to the sake of the country, will always be remembered as the excellent mentors in the van of our revolutionary ranks in the future, too, the message stressed.

Wishing all the war veterans across the country good health, longevity and happiness of their families and expressing belief that all the people and service personnel of the People's Army would boldly overcome difficulties and usher in a period of the greatest-ever upswing in socialist construction by cherishing the revolutionary spirit of the great defenders of the country as a treasured sword for victory, the Central Committee of the WPK extended glory to the heroic generation of war victors who defended our great country, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Sin Jon Min, a participant in the Fatherland Liberation War, expressed in his speech his profound gratitude to the Party Central Committee for calling war veterans to the grand and meaningful conference again and bestowing highest glory and happiness upon them.

Saying that war veterans have nothing to wish for as they came to be convinced that the baton of revolution was successfully handed down to the robust and reliable descendents to uphold the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , he earnestly requested the younger generations to firmly defend the country and benevolent social system, which theforerunners have protected throughout their lives, true to his leadership.

Then speeches were made.

The speakers warmly congratulated the war veterans, the proud heroes of the nation and true patriots who defended the country at the cost of their lives.

They said that the noble spirit and heroic life of the generation of war victors are, indeed, the textbook of the worthy life and examples of genuine patriots.

They expressed their will to strikingly demonstrate the spirit and mettle of the descendents of the heroic generation in the on-going general advance for fully displaying the might of

Kim Jong Un 's Korea, holding aloft the baton of victory handed down by the generation of war victors. -0-

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