Pyongyang, February 18 (KCNA) -- Koreans in Japan significantly celebrated the greatest auspicious February holiday of the nation.

Officials of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and officials of its organizations laid a floral basket and bouquets before the portrait of Chairman Kim Jong Il on Feb. 14 and paid tribute to him.

A meeting of Koreans in Japan took place at the Korean Hall in Tokyo on the same day to celebrate the 83rd birth anniversary of the Chairman.

Present there were Ho Jong Man, chairman of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee, Pak Ku Ho, first vice-chairman and director of the Organizational Department of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee, members of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee, school inspectors, advisers, the director of the Research Institute on History of Korean Residents in Japan and chairpersons of Chongryon headquarters in the Kanto area.

Pak Ku Ho made a report.

The reporter highly praised Kim Jong Il as the peerlessly great man of Mt Paektu as he was born as the son of the guerrillas on Mt Paektu, the holy mountain of revolution, and cherished the great intention to glorify the DPRK while experiencing two revolutionary wars, the building of a new country and the postwar reconstruction.

The glorious history in which Kim Jong Il devoted all his life to adding luster to the country, is being carried forward more brilliantly while shining its rays all over the world thanks to the respected Marshal Kim Jong Un, he added.

Chongryon will certainly make innovations in ushering in a new era of its prosperity by dynamically conducting the patriotic mass movement this significant year marking the 70th formation anniversary of Chongryon, the patriotic legacy of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, the reporter said.

A congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Un was read out at the meeting.

A lecture was given at the Korean Hall on Feb. 15 to celebrate the 83rd birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il.

Present there were members of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee and other officials of Chongryon.

Screened at the lecture was a video titled "Noble World of Comradeship". -0-