Pyongyang, April 9 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Thursday:

- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party who is president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

- He received a congratulatory message from the president of the Republic of Cuba.

- He sent a birthday spread to the honorary curator of the Sinchon Class Education House.

- The foreign minister of the People's Republic of China will visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

- A national industrial art exhibition opened to commemorate April 15, the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.

- The National Symposium on Medical Science-2026 was held.

- Passing-on-technique activities are being conducted for the operation of regional-industry factories and hospitals.

- The press deals with the Russian people highly praising the great men at the April spring art festival.

Rodong Sinmun

- The foundation excavation for the fifth-stage housing construction in the Hwasong area has reached the final stage and the ground concrete tamping is progressing apace.

- Bronze- and New-Stone-age sites for salt production were unearthed in the area of Wonup Workers' District, Onchon County, Nampho Municipality.

- An article says that the African countries are urging their colonial suzerain states to liquidate their past crimes and striving to defend justice and dignity.

Minju Joson

- Premier Pak Thae Song received a congratulatory message from his Lao counterpart.

- The DPRK foreign minister received a congratulatory message from the deputy prime minister and concurrently foreign minister of Laos.

- An article notes that the relations between China and Japan are still getting worse after being rapidly frozen owing to the Japanese prime minister's remarks related to Taiwan. -0-