North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

KPA Service Personnel Meet for Day of the Shining Star

A loyalty meeting of KPA service members and officers at Ku'msusan Palace in Pyongyang on February 14, 2016 to mark Kim Jong Il's birth anniversary, the day of the shining star (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

A loyalty meeting of KPA service members and officers at Ku’msusan Palace in Pyongyang on February 14, 2016 to mark Kim Jong Il’s birth anniversary, the day of the shining star (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Korean People’s Army [KPA] officers and service members gathered at Ku’msusan Memorial Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on February 14 (Sunday) for a loyalty meeting on the occasions of the Day of the Shining Star (birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il [Kim Cho’ng-il]).  Attending the gathering were VMar Hwang Pyong So (Director of the KPA General Political Department), Gen. Pak Yong Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Gen. Ri Myong Su (Chief of the KPA General Staff) along with other members of the KPA high command, commanding officers of the KPA service branches and students of DPRK military academies and revolutionary schools.

The meeting began with a musical program by the KPA military band, followed by “respectful homage to the portraits of smiling Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and Kim Jong Il.”  VMar Hwang Pyong So delivered a speech in which he said that “the immortal revolutionary exploits the Generalissimos performed in the glorious period of the nation’s history spanning 5 000 years by dedicating themselves to the sacred revolutionary cause of achieving the country’s prosperity and people’s happiness, would remain shining forever.”  Hwang “represented the faith and will of the service personnel of the KPA to hold the Generalissimos in high esteem as the sun of Chuch;e forever and faithfully uphold the idea and leadership of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un.”  He remarked that “the KPA is the eternal army of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and our armed forces are those of Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) which devotedly defend him and remain true only to his leadership” and “it will always keep itself highly alert in view of the prevailing situation and mobilize all its inexhaustible military muscle which has been built down through generations if the enemies try to encroach upon the DPRK’s sovereignty and thus mercilessly blow up their bases of aggression.”

After Hwang’s speech, participants called out slogans and vowed to “wage a dynamic struggle for the final victory of the revolutionary cause of Chuch’e.”  After which, KPA service members marched in Ku’msusan plaza and a fireworks display.

An affiliate of 38 North