PYONGYANG _ North Korea considerably modified its mass gymnastics and artistic show by taking out parts that stress ideological loyalty and adding content to honor visiting South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, who watched it Wednesday night.
Following his summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Roh, accompanied by North Korea's titular head of state, Kim Yong-nam, watched the "Arirang" performance at Rungrado May Day Stadium, the world's largest football stadium capable of seating over 150,000.
However, North Korean leader Kim did not show up for the performance.
The show, officially called the Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance, usually starts with a prelude and proceeds to a main scene, followed by scenes 1, 2 ,3 and 4 plus a conclusion.
The North removed the regular prelude, which stirred controversy in the South because of its praise of the late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il. Instead, it used a prelude in which performers waved paper peonies and azaleas toward President Roh, directly followed by Scene 1 titled "Arirang Nation" describing the hardship Koreans suffered under Japanese colonial rule.
The North omitted such slogans as "We pay greatest respect to the nation's father and great leader," and "Maximum glory for Comrade Kim Jong-il" from the backdrops formed by thousands of people with flipcards. The slogans appeared in the performance until August, when the show was suspended after North Korea was
hit by severe flooding.
Most of the slogans praising the North's ruling Korea Workers' Party that usually appear in the concluding scene, such as "Long live the KWP" and "Glory for our Party," were also eliminated.
In Scene 2, titled "Songun Arirang," the organizers excluded bayonet drills honoring the North Korean People's Army and replaced it with a demonstration of Taekwondo, Korea's traditional martial art. Despite such efforts to soften the content, however, the North kept intact the main part of the performance designed to maintain the North Korean people's unity, such as combat scenes in Scene 4, the parade of an army band and a display of slogans praising the "Iron General who repelled two imperialist invaders in one generation" and "Generalissimo Kim Jong-il who fostered a strong army with parental love."
The Arirang performance made its debut in 2002 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Kim Il-sung. It was performed between April 29 and Aug. 15 that year.
The Arirang performance, composed of music, traditional dance, gymnastics and highly difficult acrobatics, involves 100,000 participants per show. Its highlights are the splendid and magnificent mass gymnastics as well as backdrops formed by 20,000 people turning flipcards simultaneously. In 2002, North Korea allowed tourists from the United States, China, Russia and Europe to watch the performance and has since made the performance more attractive to tourists from abroad.
Arirang has been at the center of heated debate in the South, as some sections of the performance are said to feature pro-communist propaganda slogans, praise of communist ideology, and idolization of the North's deceased founder and his son, the current leader.
Upon arrival at May Day stadium with first lady Kwon Yang-suk and South Korean delegates at around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Roh was presented with a bouquet of flowers by a lady in a traditional Korean costume. When Roh appeared at the entrance to the viewing area, the audience gave him a standing ovation and he waved the bouquet above his head in response.
After the show began, Kim Yong-nam from time to time explained what was happening, pointing to a leaflet for the performance, and Roh listened to him, nodding.
At around 8:44 p.m. when Kim stood up and applauded, Roh followed suit. It was in the closing scene of "Big Smile!" in "Songun Arirang," the show's Chapter II in which children in blue or pink costumes performed rope-jumping and other games. As the children finished their part, they ran towards the VIP section where Roh and Kim were seated and shouted "Great Father General, Thank You." Kim stood up and applauded. At the same time, the card section in the stands showed a slogan, "Great Father General, Thank You." First lady Kwon did not stand up.
Roh stood up again at the finale of the performance. As the audience shouted hurrahs towards him, the president stood up, applauded and waved to the performers and the audience. Then, the first lady, all members of the official delegation and the special entourage from the South stood up as well.
Coincidentally, a song paying tribute to the late Supreme Leader Kim Il-sung was broadcast over the loudspeakers and the backdrop section showed a slogan, "It's the 21st century. The Sun Is Brightening Up the Whole World. Ooo...Gen. Kim Il-sung!" While Roh was clapping, it changed to another slogan, "Prosper forever, Kim Il-sung and Joseon!," and the performers and audience cheered in response. Roh left the stadium with Kim at around 9:30 p.m., waving toward the audience.
(Joint press corps)