A ceremony of great significance was held in the area of Hwasong in Pyongyang, well known as an epitome representing socialist Korea's rapid advance toward a grandiose future and as a symbol of new construction miracles and high civilization. The ceremony demonstrates the spirit of continuous revolution and the power for persistent advance peculiar to the Workers' Party of Korea.

Thanks to the far-sighted plan and ambition of the WPK to accelerate the simultaneous and comprehensive rejuvenation of the whole country by turning its capital city into an ideal one representing the socialist cultural efflorescence admired by the world and making sure that the appearance of the capital city undergoing uninterrupted progress is reflected in all other parts of the country, the fifth-stage construction of the Hwasong area is to start in the run-up to the glorious Ninth Congress of the WPK.

The grand construction campaign is to be conducted without a moment's let-up to show steady upsurges in the efforts for Pyongyang's prosperity in the new era and ever-soaring confidence in the development of Korean-style civilization, at a time when loud cheers have been heard at the inauguration ceremony celebrating the remarkable overfulfilment of the five-year plan for the capital city construction set forth at the Eighth Congress of the WPK. This is a noble manifestation of the people-first political ideals of the WPK racing against time to bring earlier a rosy future of the country through a resolute and offensive struggle.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth-stage construction in the Hwasong area took place with splendour on February 18, adding to the trust of the people in their Party and social system and the confidence in their strength and cause.

The venue for the ceremony brimmed with great enthusiasm of the builders to write with pride a new history of transformation of their beloved capital city of Pyongyang by displaying more powerfully the spirit and morale they had shown in building magnificent monumental edifices symbolic of their era and generation by upholding the Party's grand plan for capital city construction with miraculous construction legends.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, attended the ceremony.

Present there were leading cadres of the Party, government and armed forces organs, officials of the Cabinet, ministries and national agencies, military and civilian builders and youth shock brigade members.

When Kim Jong Un arrived at the venue, all the participants raised enthusiastic cheers for a long time with deep reverence for the great revolutionary and benevolent father who is translating the centuries-old desire of the people into a brilliant reality of the present times, leading to steady success and shining victory the historic advance towards the comprehensive development and rejuvenation of Korean-style socialist construction.

He made a meaningful speech on the occasion of the groundbreaking for the fifth-stage construction of the Hwasong area.

He noted that we will now launch into a construction project for the new year according to the long-term plan for transforming our capital city of Pyongyang more wonderfully. Saying that with the beginning of the fifth-stage construction project in the Hwasong area today, the capital city construction that was basically aimed at solving the housing problem is switching over to a higher phase of transforming the overall appearance of the capital city on a large scale, he referred to the nature of the capital city construction and the goal and long-term plan to be attained and implemented in the next five years.

As befits the hub of our country and the origin of advanced culture and civilization, the capital city of Pyongyang should be perfect in all aspects and make uninterrupted progress, he said, adding that over the few years to come we will get rid of those elements that are inappropriate for the capital city in view of its overall formation and build modern streets and that this will bring about another facelift of the city, which will in turn augment its strategic position and role.

Expressing belief that all the capital city builders will wonderfully carry out the first task in the new plan period by pooling all their efforts and creativity and render a great contribution to glorifying this significant year, when the Ninth Party Congress will be held, as a successful year without fail, he ardently called on everyone to vigorously turn out once again for the capital city of the motherland.

When he made a militant appeal at the end of his speech, the capital city builders and all other participants raised passionate cheers in reflection of their ardent reverence for and trust in him.

Kim Jong Un dug the first spadeful of earth to signal the start of the fifth-stage construction of the Hwasong area and pressed the button for blasting.

The thrilling explosion shook the earth, convincing all the participants of the continuous heyday of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK.

Kim Jong Un extended his warm encouragement to all the builders filled with enthusiasm for glorifying the precious name and honour of the capital city builders by performing a miracle of legendary construction and more magnificently transforming the Hwasong area into an exemplary entity of the development and civilization of Korean style perfectly embodying the Party's people-first idea and politics.

He repeatedly expressed belief that the officials of the construction headquarters and the capital city builders would always bear in mind the trust and expectations of the Party and the people and faithfully discharge their responsibility and role in the vanguard of the construction revolution in the new era and thus make the next five years a remarkable heyday when Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, will be transformed once again into the most beautiful city full of happiness of the people.

The start of the fifth-stage construction in the Hwasong area is a striking demonstration of the strong revolutionary spirit and power for courageous advance exclusive to the WPK which advances indomitably and bravely towards the far-reaching ideal and goal for building a highly civilized and prosperous country by giving top precedence to fulfilling the people's long-cherished desire over all other affairs.