Pyongyang holds artistic performance to celebrate ruling party congress

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held an artistic performance here Wednesday to celebrate the just-concluded 7th Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

The show was jointly given by the Moranbong Band, Chongbong Band and the state merited chorus, with more than 10,000 people watching including around 3,600 party representatives who took part in the congress, at Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Indoor Stadium.

Four of the five members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee watched the performance on the podium, except for top leader Kim Jong Un, who was just elected as chairman of the WPK.

The show was presented in two sections, each lasting one hour and a half, with a break of 30 minutes.

When the three art troupes performed the last song together, a picture of Kim was shown on a big screen. The entire audience stood up and gave thunderous applause.

The Moranbong Band was established and named at Kim's request in 2012 and soon became the most widely known and popular light music group in the DPRK.

The state merited chorus was organized by late leader Kim Jong Il and is well known for singing songs that embody the revolutionary spirit of the Juche idea.

The Chongbong Band, composed of seven members, was newly orchestrated in 2015, the creation of which was also attributed to Kim. The band made a public debut in Moscow in early September 2015.

On Tuesday, Pyongyang held a mass rally and parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to celebrate the end of the four-day party congress.

The ruling party's 7th congress opened Friday for the first time in 36 years. It was the first party congress since Kim came to power in late 2011.

The party congress not only mapped out a course for future development and mulled state and economic policies, but also became a chance to consolidate Kim's grip on power and strengthen the people's loyalty to the core leadership. Endi