An overview of the Moranbong Band’s New Year’s concert (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 1 January (Tuesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu) attended a New Year’s concert titled Following the Party to the End by the Moranbong Band. KJU’s last reported public appearance was his attendance at a banquet for personnel involved in the 12 December 2012 U’nha-3 rocket launch hosted by the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Central Committee. Attending the concert with KJU and RSJ were Kim Yong Nam, Choe Yong Rim, Gen. Choe Ryong Hae, ”senior party, state and army officials and officials of party, armed forces and power organs, working people’s organizations, ministries and national institutions, officials, scientists, researchers, teachers and students in the fields of science and education and scientists, technicians, workers and officials who contributed to the successful launch of Kwangmyongsong 3-2″ and “the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front and overseas compatriots, diplomatic envoys, representatives of international organizations and military attaches and their wives and staff members of foreign embassies here and other foreign guests.”
After arriving at the concert, Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju and greeted and talked with diplomats, military attaches and officials of foreign organizations. At midnight on 1 January 2013, a fireworks displays began in different areas around Pyongyang. According to KCNA, KJU “drank toast with senior officials of the party, state and army and foreign guests, watching the fireworks.” Following the fireworks, KJU and RSJ attended the Moranbong Band concert and “acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers of the participants, congratulating all the service personnel and people on the New Year.” The concert included “female trio ‘The Nodul Riverside’, light music and serial songs and ‘Collection of World Famous Songs.’” According to KCNA, “the performers sang high praises of the undying feats President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il performed by building an invincible power on this land and laying a firm foundation for the independent reunification of the country and its peace and prosperity and the prosperity of Military-First (so’ngun) Korea, taking the road of independence, Military-First and socialism all their lives” and the performance was “pervaded with the ardent reverence for Kim Jong Un who is ushering in the era of great prosperity in which he is taking warm care of the people and enabling all of them to enjoy wealth and prosperity under socialism.”
Pyongyang citizens watch a fireworks displays over the skies of the DPRK capital on 1 January 2013. (KCNA)
A New Year’s Day fireworks display over the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on 1 January 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
A fireworks display illuminates the Tower of the Chuch’e Idea and the skies over Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on 1 January 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Filed under: 2nd Academy of Natural Science, Administration Department, Central Committee, Central Military Committee, Choe Ryong Hae, Choe Yong Rim, Culture Section (bureau), diploreps, DPRK Cabinet, DPRK Diplomat Corps, DPRK External Relations, DPRK Premier, Events Management Section, Guard Command, Jang Song-thaek, Kim Family, Kim Jong Un Visits, Kim Jong-un, Kim Yong Nam, KJI Personal Secretariat, KKH, Korea Committee for Space Technology, Korean People's Army (KPA), Korean People's Internal Security Forces, Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KPA External Relations, KPA General Political Bureau, KPA General Political Department, kpif, Kwangmyongsong-3, local people's committees, ministry of people's security, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (MPAF), MPAF GPB, National Academy of Defense Sciences, National Defense Commission (NDC), national holidays, North Korean press, Organization and Guidance Department, Party elders, party life, Political Bureau, Propaganda and Agitation Department, Provincial Party Committees, Provinicial People's Committee, Pyongyang Defense Command, Ri Sol Ju (Kim Jong Un's wife), Secretariat, Supreme People's Assembly, Unha-3 Carrier Rocket, Working Organizations
