Pyongyang, February 9 (KCNA) -- A banquet was given on February 8 on the occasion of the 76th founding anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army (KPA).

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, was present at the banquet.

Present there on invitation were commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence, commanders of the large combined units and other generals of the KPA.

The hall of the banquet was filled with boundless gratitude to the great father who always keeps the service personnel in his mind and shows all sorts of love for and trust for them and glorifies the honor of the army at the highest peak.

When Kim Jong Un appeared at the hall together with his respected daughter, all the generals of the army broke into enthusiastic cheers, paying the highest tribute to Kim Jong Un, peerlessly brilliant commander who has developed the People's Army into an invincible revolutionary army which has recorded proud victory and performed only brilliant feats in the 70-odd long militant journey.

Jo Yong Won, Ri Il Hwan, Pak Jong Chon, Jo Chun Ryong, Jon Hyon Chol and Pak Thae Song, secretaries of the C.C., WPK, and other cadres of the Party Central Committee attended the significant banquet.

An art performance was given before the banquet

The national anthem of the DPRK was solemnly played.

Listening to the songs of the revolutionary army showing the unusual pride, honor and the militant spirit of the most righteous and powerful KPA, which has held the peerlessly brilliant commander in high esteem as its supreme commander and father, the generals of the army keenly felt again that the prestige and spirit of our army are fully displayed to the whole world under the outstanding leadership of Kim Jong Un.

Pak Jong Chon made a speech at the banquet.

He warmly congratulated the generals on significantly spending the Day of Army Founding in boundless glory in presence of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un who visited the building of the Ministry of National Defence and warmly congratulated the service personnel of the entire army with high appreciation and encouragement on the significant birthday of the army.

Only when the army regards the immutable truth of history that an army which absolutely obeys the orders and instructions of the Party can win as the fundamental lifeline for army building and the first moral obligation of army existence, can it be always faithful to the idea and spirit of army founding for the country and the people, he stressed.

He expressed belief that all the commanding officers of the army would honorably defend the important mission and duty of the People's Army by keeping in mind the trust and privilege bestowed by the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un to them and displaying ability for correct and unconditional practice which does not deviate even 0.001mm from intention of the Party Central Committee whenever they map out an operation plan and strategy and give a command.

All the participants toasted the good health of Kim Jong Un who has built the strongest revolutionary armed forces in the world and led them to the ever-victorious path and vigorous development and immortal feats of the heroic KPA shouldering the destiny and future of our state and people.

The banquet hall was warmly filled with the time of significant emotion and joy when the world of special affection and obligation between the great brilliant commander and his soldiers was recorded again in the history of the Korean People's Army. -0-