North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Central Report Meeting Marks Foundation Day

Overview of the venue of the central reporting meeting in Pyongyang on September 8, 2015 to mark the 67th anniversary of the DPRK's foundation (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Overview of the venue of the central reporting meeting in Pyongyang on September 8, 2015 to mark the 67th anniversary of the DPRK’s foundation (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

A central report meeting was held at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on September 8 (Tuesday) to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK (observed September 9).  Attending the meeting were senior Workers’ Party of Korea, Korean People’s Army and DPRK Government officials, the heads of the DPRK’s other political parties, central party cadres, Supreme People’s Assembly deputies (delegates), WPK and KPA officials, leading functionaries of workers’ and social organizations, government officials, KPA service members and officers, along with “officials of organs and industrial establishments in Pyongyang, labor innovators, bereaved family members of revolutionary martyrs, a congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan, overseas Koreans and the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front.”  Also attending, on invitation, were foreign ambassadors and other diplomatic personnel based in the DPRK, foreign defense attaches and other foreign guests.

View of the platform at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on September 8, 2015, at a meeting held to mark the 67th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

View of the platform at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on September 8, 2015, at a meeting held to mark the 67th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Senior officials seated on the platform for the central report meeting included: Kim Yong Nam (President of the SPA Presidium), Pak Pong Ju (DPRK Premier), Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department and Vice Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC]), Choe Tae Bok (WPK Secretary and Chairman of the SPA), Kim Ki Nam (WPK Secretary for Propaganda and Agitation), Yang Hyong Sop (Vice President of the SPA Presidium), Choe Ryong Hae (WPK Secretary of Military Affairs), VMar Ri Yong Mu (Vice Chairman of the NDC), Gen. O Kuk Ryol (Vice Chairman of the NDC), Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Gen. Kim Won Hong (Minister of State Security), Kim Yang Gon (WPK Secretary and Director of the United Front Department), Kim Yong Dae (Chairman of the Korean Social Democratic Party), Kwak Pom Gi (WPK Secretary and Director of Planning and Finance), O Su Yong (WPK Secretary for Light Industry), Jo Chun Ryong (Chairman of the Second Economy Commission), Kim P’yo’ng-hae (WPK Secretary of Cadres’ Affairs), Gen. Yun Jong Rin (Director of the Guard Command), Lt. Gen. Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Pak Myong Chol (President of the DPRK Supreme Court), Ro Tu Chol (DPRK Vice Premier and Chairman of the State Planning Commission) and Jo Yon Jun (Senior Deputy Director [1st Vice] of the WPK Organization Guidance Department).

Choe Tae Bok presided over the meeting.  Pak Pong Ju delivered the report.

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju delivers a report during a meeting held to mark the 67th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju delivers a report during a meeting held to mark the 67th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

According to KCNA, Pak said that:

The founding of the DPRK meant the great birth of the Chuch’e-type people’s power, the first of its kind in the history of nation-building in the era of independence, and an event of national historical significance as it brought about a dramatic change in carving out the destiny of the country and its people.

The nearly seven decades-long history of the DPRK is a glorious one in which it developed into an invincible socialist state under the outstanding and tested leadership of the peerlessly great men of Mt. Paektu.

The President and leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) set forth the idea of building an independent and sovereign state and the line for building a thriving nation reflecting the requirements of the times and the aspiration of the people and built on this land a country independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in national defense, weathering all sorts of trials with steel-like will and distinguished leadership ability, and thus set an example in building the socialist power.

They made sure that the DPRK government regarded believing in the people as in Heaven as its basic idea of nation-building and fully applied the slogan “We serve the people!” to the state activities and all the lines, policies and activities were thoroughly implemented to protect the independent rights and interests of the people.

They made ceaseless long journeys of patriotic devotion to lay a strong economic foundation so that the Korean people may enjoy happiness and wellbeing generation after generation, and brought about great changes in the drive for building an economic power and improving the people’s living standard.

In the whole period of leading the revolution they, pioneers and leaders of the Military-First (So’ngun) revolution, turned the DPRK into an invincible military power on the revolutionary principle that arms guarantees the victory of the revolutionary cause and prosperity of the country and nation.

They regarded the reunification of the country as the supreme task of the nation and greatest patriotic cause and worked heart and soul to hand down a reunified country to posterity. They steadily raised the prestige and influence of the DPRK in the international arena and developed foreign relations, making undying contributions to accomplishing the cause of global independence.

Under the leadership of the party the DPRK is dynamically advancing for the final victory in the drive for building a thriving nation [and] for building a paradise for the people, the best power in the world, on this land as early as possible and stepping up the final victory of the revolutionary cause of Chuch’e.

It is the consistent stand of the DPRK to bring about a great change in the north-south relations and pave a wide avenue to independent reunification.

The government of the DPRK will as ever make every effort to preserve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region and achieve global independence and boost the friendly and cooperative relations with those countries which are friendly towards it.

The DPRK’s flag, which has fluttered as a symbol of victory and dignity of the motherland, will always flutter in the sky of the century as a signpost of the great Paektusan (Mount Paektu) nation.

An affiliate of 38 North