Kim Jong Un Attends Banquet and Concert with KMS-4 Personnel

Kim Jong Un speaks at a banquet hosted for personnel who participated in the launch of the Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-4 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his observation of the launch of the Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-4 on February 7

Kim Jong Un hosted a banquet and concert for the personnel involved in the launch of Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-4 [KMS-4] at the Mokran House in central Pyongyang on February 14 (Sunday).  Also attending the banquet were Kim Yong (Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium President),  VMar Hwang Pyong So, Pak Pong Ju (DPRK Premier), Kim Ki Nam (Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department), Choe T’ae Bok (WPK Secretary for Science and Education and SPA Chairman) Gen. Pak Yong Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Gen. Ri Myong Su (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Yang Hyong Sop (Vice President of the SPA Presidium and Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea), Gen. Kim Won Hong (Minister of State Security), Kwak Pom Gi (WPK Secretary and Director of Planning and Finance), O Su Yong (WPK Secretary of Light Industry), Kim P’yo’ng-hae (WPK Secretary and Director of the Cadres’ Affairs Department), Kim Yong Chol (Secretary and Director of the United Front Department), Gen. Choe Pu Il (Minister of People’s Security), Ro Tu Chol (Chairman of the State Planning Commission and DPRK Vice Premier), Jo Yon Jun (Senior Deputy Director of the WPK Organization Guidance Department), along with other WPK, KPA and DPRK Government officials.

Kim Jong Un arrives and attends a banquet at the WPK Central Committee’s Mokran (peony) House in central Pyongyang on February 14, 2016. The banquet was hosted for personnel who participated in the successful launch of the Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-4 on February 7, 2016 (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un was accompanied to the banquet by his wife Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu) and after arriving at Mokran House reviewed a KPA honor guard of the three service branches and the Worker-Peasant Red Guard.

At the banquet Jong Un delivered a congratulatory speech.  According to KCNA he said:

The decision to launch the earth observation satellite for the destiny and dignity of the country with the approach of the historic 7th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea under the complicated situation, in which the hostile forces were getting evermore frantic to suffocate the DPRK, was made on the basis of deep trust in the scientists faithful to the Party, genuine patriots.  The credit for the present great success goes to the strength of the close relationship between the Party and you scientists, in which the former believes in the latter and vice versa.

The course of conquering space was for the purpose of the revolution and independence rather than for that of science, and it was a fierce struggle to defend the peace and sovereignty from the hostile forces as well as to implement the behests of the great leaders. Today’s great success was recorded as a glorious page in the history of our Party and country as it gave confidence and courage to our people and dealt a telling blow to the enemies seeking to block the advance of our country.

This is an age of science and technology and to develop science and technology is an important matter decisive of the nation’s future and destiny. In order to accelerate the advance speed of the great Paektusan (Mt. Paektu) nation outpacing the world while demonstrating the might of independence, So’ngun (military-first) and socialism, it is necessary for the front of science to exert its most strength and to show the mysterious strength of Chuch’e-based science.

Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju (top right) along with KMS-4 personnel and senior DPRK officials watch a concert by the Moranbong Band following a banquet at Mokran House in central Pyongyang on February 14, 2016 (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).

Kim Jong Un “called for turning out in the scientific researches to hit a higher target with the present great success as a springboard for greater victory and thus launch more working satellites of Chuch’e Korea in the future.”  After Jong Un’s speech, the Moranbong Band gave a performance “celebrating” the KMS-4’s launch.