Pyongyang Mass Rally Celebrates KMS-4 Launch
View of Pyongyang citizens in Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang on February 8, 2016 during a mass rally celebrating the launch of the Kwangmyo’nso’ng rocket (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
An Army-People mass rally celebrating the launch of the Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-4 [KMS-4] was held in Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) Square in central Pyongyang on February 8 (Monday). According to KCNA the rally was attended by “over 150,000 people full of national pride and self-esteem of masters of the space power who demonstrated the dignity and might of the great Kim Il Sung’s, Kim Jong Il’s (Kim Cho’ng-il) and Kim Jong Un’s (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) Korea and the overall might of Chuch’e Korea.”
Pyongyang citizens gathered in front of the Chuch’e Tower in east Pyongyang on February 8, 2016 as they gather for a mass rally celebrating the launch of the Kwangmyo’ngso’ng (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
WPK Secretary Kim Yong Chol (right) and WPK Organization Guidance Department Senior Deputy Director Jo Yon Jun (2nd right) with other senior DPRK officials at the mass rally on February 8, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screengrab).
Among the DPRK central leadership attending the rally from the platform overlooking KIS Square were: Kim Yong Nam (President of the Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium); Pak Pong Ju (DPRK Premier); VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department); Choe T’ae Bok (Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Secretary for Science and Education and Chairman of the SPA); Kim Ki Nam (WPK Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department); Yang Hyong Sop (Vice President of the SPA Presidium); Gen. Pak Yong Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces); Gen. Ri Myong Su (immediate past Minister of People’s Security and former Director of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau); O Su Yong (WPK Secretary for Light Industry) ; Kim Yong Chol (WPK Secretary and Director of the United Front Department); Kwak Pom Gi (WPK Secretary and Director of the Planning and Finance Department); Kim P’yo’ng-hae (WPK Secretary and Director of the Cadres’ Affairs Department); Gen. Kim Won Hong (Minister of State Security); Ri Su Yong (Minister of Foreign Affairs); Jo Yon Jun (Senior Deputy Director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department); Ro Tu Chol (Chairman of the State Planning Commission and DPRK Vice Premier); Kim Yong Dae (Chairman of the Korean Social Democratic Party Central Committee); Col. Gen. So Hong Chan (1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces); Col. Gen. Yun Tong Hyon (Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces); Col. Gen. Ro Kwang Chol (Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff); Lt. Gen. Ryom Chol Song (deputy director of the KPA General Political Department and director of the KPA General Propaganda Department); Gen. O Kum Chol (Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff); Kim Su Gil (Chairman of the Pyongyang WPK Committee); Jang Chol (President of the State Academy of Sciences); Ri Chol Man (DPRK Vice Premier); Kim Yong Jin (DPRK Vice Premier); Kim Jong Sun (Chairwoman of the Korean Democratic Women’s Union); Ri Myong Gil (Chairman of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea Central Committee); and, Jon Yong Nam (Chairman of the Kim Il Sung Youth League). Also on the platform were senior civilian and military officials involved in the launch of the KMS-4.
DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju reads a report about the KMS-4 launch from the DPRK National Aerospace Development Agency at a mass rally in central Pyongyang on February 8, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screengrab).
Choe Tae Bok presided over the rally. DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju read out a report from the DPRK National Aerospace Development Agency [NADA] which was followed by speeches from leading officials of the party, military, science community and youth league.
WPK Secretary Kim Ki Nam gives a congratulatory speech at a mass rally celebrating the KMS-4 launch in central Pyongyang on February 8, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screengrab).
Kim Ki Nam, speaking on behalf of the WPK, said that “the US imperialists and the forces following them are making provocation, calling the successful launch of the satellite a ‘challenge’ and ‘violation’ but satellites of Chuche’s will continue to fly into the blue sky of the country.”
KPA service members applaud during a February 8, 2016 mass rally celebrating the successful launch of the KMS-4 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Colonel General Yun Tong Hyon reads congratulatory remarks at the February 8, 2016 mass rally (Photo: KCTV screengrab).
Col. Gen. Yun Tong Hyon said that “the complete success of Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-4 proved that the great Kim Il Sung’s and Kim Jong Il’s Korea is a scientific and technological power and a space power.”
President of the State Academy of Sciences Jang Chol delivers a speech on behalf of DPRK scientists during a mass rally on February 8, 2016 (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Jang Chol, according to KCNA, “pledged to solve at the fastest speed and level scientific and technological problems for increasing the defense capabilities of the country, building an economic power and improving people’s standard of living and put all the fields of science and technology on the up-to-date basis with the revolutionary faith of Paektu, the spirit of the blizzards of Paektu and the spirit of self-reliance and self-development.”
DPRK citizens gathered in Kim Il Sung Square for a mass rally celebrating the launch of the KMS-4 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Il Sung Youth League Central Committee Chairman Jon Yong Nam delivers a congratulatory speech at the February 8, 2016 mass rally (Photo: KCTV screen grab).
Jon Yong Nam said that “the speed of advance of the large contingent of youths bringing earlier the bright morrow of prosperity in close unit around Marshal Kim Jong Un will be more accelerated and whoever tries to dare infringe upon the independent dignity and the legitimate right of Korea will never evade the powerful punishment of Korean youths.”
