Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Saturday:

- On the occasion of the 82nd birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong Il,

Senior officials of the Party and the government visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

Working people, service personnel, youth and students laid floral baskets before the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il.

Foreign organizations and personages sent floral baskets to the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill.

Officials of the youth league from across the country made a study tour of Kim Jong Il's birthplace in the Paektusan Secret Camp and had a meeting to hear stories about noble virtues of Kim Jong Il.

A joint national meeting of the Korean Children's Union organizations took place and a performance was given by the participants in the People's Art Festival.

The first-term winter camping of schoolchildren has begun at the Jangjasan Children's Camp and an evening gala of youth and students took place.

Members of the diplomatic corps here enjoyed a concert given by the National Symphony Orchestra.

- The whole country significantly celebrated the greatest auspicious February holiday of the nation.

- KCNA commentary says that aerial espionage by the U.S. and the puppet ROK against the DPRK is getting more undisguised in February. -0-