Warmly acknowledging the enthusiastic cheers of the audience, he heartily congratulated them on the day of victory in the war.

Put on the stage were colorful numbers such as male choruses "Song Devoted to Marshal
Kim Il Sung", "Our General Is the Best" and "July 27, Our Victory Day", serial wartime songs "Song of National Defence", "To the Road of Decisive Battle" and "My Song in the Trench", orchestral music and male chorus "Mungyong Pass", male chorus "Where Are You, Dear General?", male solos and male choruses "We Defend Safety of General" and "For My Only Motherland", male chorus "Leader, Just Give Us Your Order" and "The Victorious Parade".

The performers sang high praises of the shining feats the KPA and the people performed by crushing the U.S.-led imperialist allied forces and honorably defending the freedom and independence of the country under the wise guidance of the Party and the leader and thereby demonstrating the dignity and stamina of heroic Korea before the whole world and fully represented the unshakable faith and will of the army and people of the DPRK to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche started in Mt. Paektu under the guidance of Kim Jong Il.

They, at the same time, powerfully demonstrated the will of the strong revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu to mercilessly wipe out the U.S. imperialists and their stooges hell-bent on the moves to ignite a new war by the force of arms of Songun bolstered up and defend the socialist country as firm as an iron wall if they dare intrude into even an inch of the inviolable sky, land and seas of the DPRK.

Expressing great satisfaction over the fact that the State Merited Chorus gave a splendid concert rich in ideological contents and high in artistry replete with the faith and will of the DPRK and the revolutionary soldier spirit, Kim Jong Il highly estimated the successful performance and extended thanks to all the creators and artistes.

The historic victory in the Fatherland Liberation War was an event of national history which saved again the destiny of the country from the crossroads of life and death and a shining victory which proved in reality that no force on earth can bar the Korean people from advancing toward independence, sovereignty and socialism, he said, adding that the feats President Kim Il Sung performed by winning the victory in the war against the U.S. will last forever with the annals of the country.

He expressed great expectation and conviction that the artistes of the State Merited Chorus would positively encourage the army and people of the DPRK to win a new victory through their revolutionary and militant performing activities just as they inspired soldiers to perform feats on the heights where battles were fought despite the rain of shells and powder smoke during the great Fatherland Liberation War.

Among the audience were Choe Yong Rim, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, KPA Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun, vice-chairman of the NDC of the DPRK and minister of the People's Armed Forces, Jang Song Thaek, vice-chairman of the NDC of the DPRK and department director of the WPK Central Committee, Choe Thae Bok, Kim Kuk Thae and Kim Ki Nam, secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, KPA General Kim Jong Gak, member of the NDC of the DPRK and first vice-director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, KPA General Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, Ju Sang Song, member of the NDC of the DPRK and minister of People's Security, commanding officers of the army and armed forces organs and leading officials of the WPK Central Committee.