North Koreans gathered en masse in a stadium in Pyongyang to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, an official media report said Saturday.

The report by the Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said the gathering kicked off at 3 p.m. with an address by Kim Young-nam, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, that lauded the birth of Kim Il-sung as a momentous event in the history of the Korean people.

He also stressed that the late leader, who died in 1994, was the founder of socialism in North Korea, KCBS said.

Kim added that under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, the founder's grandson who has become head of the country since the sudden death of his father Kim Jong-il in December, North Korea's future is bright. He said the people and the military must have firm belief in victory as they follow their new leader.

The broadcaster said many high ranking officials from the party, government and military were present in the gathering that took place on the eve of Kim Il-sung's birthday, which falls on Sunday. (Yonhap)