North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Unhasu Orchestra Concert for Folk Holiday (Jan. 15 Lunar New Year)

KCNA report from 18 February 2011

Kim Jong Il Enjoys Concert Given on Traditional Folk Holiday

KCNA, February 18, 2011

Pyongyang – Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, enjoyed with Chinese comrades here the concert given by the Unhasu Orchestra on Thursday on the occasion of the January 15th of the lunar calendar, the traditional folk holiday of the peoples of Korea and China.

The Mansudae Art Theatre, the venue of the concert, was pervaded with the warm DPRK-China friendship sealed in blood.

When he appeared in the auditorium of the theatre, the entire audience enthusiastically welcomed him, offering highest glory and warmest congratulations to him who has ushered in a great heyday of the nation’s prosperity with his energetic songun leadership and performed an undying contribution to boosting the DPRK-China friendship.

He warmly acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of the audience and warmly congratulated them on the folk holiday.  The concert included colorful numbers like “The Korean Nation Is the Best”, “I Can Not Tell It Yet,” “We Love Thee Socialism,” “Song of Roast Chestnut” and the theme song of TV serial drama “Mao Anying”, Chinese songs “Sea Is My Birthplace,” “Naval Port at Night,” “Song of Yangtze River,” small haegum concerto “Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai” and piano concerto “Yellow River.”

The performers enthusiastically sang of the heroic spirit of the Korean people dashing ahead along the road of leap forward under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il and powerfully demonstrated the unbreakable DPRK-China friendship growing stronger day by day under the deep care of the leaders of the two countries.

Watching the performance replete with the rich national emotion, optimism and revolutionary enthusiasm of the two peoples, the audience firmly resolved to dynamically push forward socialist construction and make a positive contribution to promoting the human common cause of peace, democracy, national independence and sovereignty.  An atmosphere overflowing with the friendship between the two peoples prevailed throughout the concert.

When the concert was over, the performers and audience again broke into cheers, shaking the theatre.

Kim Jong Il acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of the performers and audience and congratulated the artistes on their successful presentation.

Staff members of the Chinese embassy here mounted the stage and handed a floral basket to the performers on their successful presentation.

He expressed great satisfaction over the splendid concert given by the artistes of the orchestra by displaying the revolutionary creative traits and highly praised them for their success in the performance.

He hosted a banquet in honor of staff members of the Chinese embassy celebrating the January 15th of the lunar calendar on the Thursday evening.

He had a warm talk with the members including the Chinese ambassador to the DPRK.

He praised the members for their services and positive efforts exerted to make a great contribution to developing the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations on a higher level.

The ambassador expressed profound thanks to him for sparing precious time to watch the performance together with them and hosting even the banquet for them though he was so busy leading the great drive for building a thriving nation.

The ambassador expressed their resolution to make positive efforts to steadily boost the Sino-DPRK friendship.

The banquet took place in a cordial atmosphere overflowing with friendship.

Among the audience were senior officials of the party, state and army including Kim Jong Un, Ri Yong Ho, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Kim Kyong Hui, Kang Sok Ju, Jang Song Thaek, Kim Jong Gak, Kim Yang Gon, Kim Yong Il, Pak To Chun, Choe Ryong Hae, Thae Jong Su, Kim Phyong Hae, Mun Kyong Dok, Ju Kyu Chang, U Tong Chu and Kim Chang Sop, and officials in the fields of literature and arts and media.

Present there on invitation were Liu Hongcai, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, staff members of his embassy, Chinese students, trainees and Chinese guests staying here.

An affiliate of 38 North