North Korean agency reports leader's birthday celebrated

Feb 21, 2010 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) - Meetings, film shows and book and photo exhibitions were held in Laos, Cambodia, Romania and Kyrgyzstan between Feb. 9 and 11 on the occasion of leader Kim Jong Il [Kim Cho'ng-il]'s birthday.

On display at the venues were his works and photos on his undying feats and books and photos of the Korean people's struggle for the building of a great prosperous and powerful nation and national reunification.

Speeches were made at the meetings.

The director of the School of Politics and Theory of the Ministry of the Public Security of Laos said that the Korean people have achieved great successes in defending the country, building socialism and improving the people's standard of living under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il [Kim Cho'ng-il], adding that this serves as precious experience for the Lao people.

The chairman of the External Relations Commission of the People's Party of Cambodia noted that the friendly and cooperative relations between his party and the Korean Workers' Party are favourably developing day by day. The Cambodian people wish the Korean people greater successes in their efforts to build a thriving nation and achieve national reunification, he said.

The chairman of the Romania?Korea Friendship Association said that Kim Jong Il pursued songun [military-first] politics with the insight into the importance of army in carrying out the cause of independence, thereby developing the Korean People's Army into an invincible army, building a self-reliant defence industry and bringing about a great turning point in the building of a thriving nation with the efforts of all the people.

The chairman of the Central Council of the People Unity?"Kyrgys El" Republican Political Party said that the Korean people will surely build a great prosperous and powerful nation thanks to the songun [military-first] leadership of Kim Jong Il.

The participants of the film shows watched the Korean films "Fireworks for a Thriving Nation" and "Korean People's Army, Steel-Strong Ranks."

A message of greetings to Kim Jong Il [Kim Cho'ng-il] was adopted at the event in Romania.

Source: KCNA website, Pyongyang, in English 0336 gmt 21 Feb 10