North Korea marks army's 80th founding anniversary

Pyongyang, April 25 (Xinhua-ANI): The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a national meeting on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army (KPA).

KPA Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un, also first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and first chairman of the National Defense Commission, was present at the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, said the founding of the KPA by commander Kim Il Sung 80 years ago ushered in a new history of building the revolutionary armed forces. He said leader Kim Jong Il strengthened the KPA and made the DPRK a world-level military power.

Kim Jong Un, "a brilliant commander of Songun (military-first)," would strengthen the might of the KPA and lead the Korean revolution to a new victory, Ri said.

Ri also warned South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, saying anyone who provokes or hurts the DPRK's dignity would be undoubtedly defeated.

He called on DPRK soldiers to "defend with their lives the Party Central Committee headed by Great Comrade Kim Jong Un" and fulfill their duty in the struggle for national reunification and in the revolutionary cause of Juche. (Xinhua-ANI)