N. Korean leader watches military art show

SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has watched a performance by soldiers at a Korean People's Army (KPA) art festival, state media said Tuesday.

The report of Kim's visit to a military event came two days after his trip to
industrial and tourism facilities in Jagang Province.
The Korean Central News Agency and other North Korean media said Kim visited the
33rd KPA art festival and watched the performance by soldiers from KPA Units 567,
531, 762 and 630. The report did not say where the event was held.
Kim "waved back to the enthusiastically cheering performers and audience" after
the performance, the report said.
Kim praised the soldiers, saying, "The best socialist system centered on the
popular masses in the DPRK is invincible as its defense line is guarded by these
elite armed forces like an invulnerable iron wall." DPRK is short for the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
Kim's extensive entourage encompassed military top brass and Workers' Party
leaders: Kim Yong-chun, vice-chairman of the National Defense Commission and
minister of the People's Armed Forces, Kim Jong-gak, first vice-director of the
General Political Bureau of the KPA, Ri Yong-o, chief of the General Staff of the
KPA, Generals Kim Won-hong, Hyon Chol-hae and Ri Myong-su, and Col. General Han
Tong-gu. Workers' Party secretaries, Choe Thae-bok and Kim Ki-nam, and party
directors were also among the audience, the report said.
hkim@yna.co.kr