Kim Jong-un, chairperson of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, held a large youth event ahead of the 9th party congress and emphasized to them the "succession of the revolutionary cause."
On the 17th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Chairperson Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League (hereafter the Youth League) held the previous day at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang.
In a commemorative speech, the chairperson said, "The revolutionary cause carried out from generation to generation is still assigning a grave mission to the Youth League and the youth, and the vigorous steps of succession that have continued year after year must continue."
"The wind of temptation aiming to corrupt the new generations has never ceased, but the red flag raised by the youth has not faded in the passage of time and in history's rain and snow, and has flown higher and more fiercely in pure and thorough succession," the leader said.
He went on, "Looking around today's world, it is none other than youths of the same age as you comrades who stand at the center of unprecedented bloody tragedies," and criticized, "Youths steeped in extreme hatred of humanity, the poison of worship of money, decadence, and pessimism are causing serious social problems in many places and producing heartbreaking tragedies of bloodshed and discord."
He stressed, "It is something to boast of to the world that we have reliable and upright young revolutionaries who hold the name card of successor as the honor of youth, overcome trials together with their own party and their own country, and temper and perfect themselves."
He also referred to the Russian dispatched soldiers who attended the commemorative event, saying, "This is something only the youths of Joseon can do," and added, "The world does not yet understand that world."
Chairperson Kim awarded the Kim Jong Il Order, the "highest order of the republic," to the Youth League and took commemorative photos with participants. He also met and praised young people who had rendered distinguished service on the "main fronts of defending the fatherland and building socialism," the agency said.
Photos of the ceremony released by North Korea show Kim Il Sung Stadium, which can hold a total of 100,000 people, filled to capacity. Choe Ryong Hae, chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly; Ri Il Hwan and Ri Hi Yong, secretaries of the Labor Party; Ju Chang Il, head of the party's Propaganda and Agitation Department; and other officials, as well as Youth League Chairperson Mun Chol, also attended, while Kim's daughter Ju Ae was not seen.
The Youth League is one of the four major mass organizations affiliated with North Korea's Labor Party and serves to instill loyalty to the party's line and system in the youth. All youths and students ages 14 to 30, excluding party members, must join, and the number of members is estimated at about 5 million.