What did Kim Jong-un say to troops involved in overseas military operations at North Korea’s founding anniversary ceremony?

Kim gave special thanks and high tribute to the commanding officers and soldiers involved in overseas military operations. He also thanked workers, service personnel and overseas compatriots’ organizations at the Pyongyang ceremony.

Why did Kim Jong-un emphasize patriotism in his remarks on North Korea’s founding day?

Kim said patriotism, voluntary service and devoted contributions were rapidly realizing the country’s ideal and greatly boosting its fighting morale. He described the righteous minds and efforts of people who love and serve the country as the pillars of irresistible might supporting development.

What else happened at the Pyongyang ceremony for North Korea’s 78th founding anniversary?

Senior party, government and military officials joined Kim and held red scarves while taking an oath of loyalty to the socialist system and the regime. Kim also met people from different sectors, including labor innovators and meritorious persons, and took commemorative photos with them.

NK leader thanks troops in overseas military operations, calls for patriotism on founding anniversary

Listen

Summary

Kim Jong-un thanked troops involved in overseas military operations and urged North Koreans to advance the country through patriotism at a ceremony in Pyongyang marking the 78th anniversary of North Korea’s founding. He said workers, service personnel and overseas compatriots’ organizations also deserved gratitude. Kim called on the Workers’ Party of Korea and the government to shoulder heavier responsibility and achieve dynamic advance.

Key Facts

The ceremony marked the 78th anniversary of North Korea’s founding and was held in Pyongyang the previous day, according to KCNA.
Kim expressed special thanks and high tribute to commanding officers and soldiers involved in overseas military operations.
He said the North Korean people’s patriotic service and devoted contributions were helping realize the country’s ideal and strengthen its fighting morale.
Kim also met representatives from various sectors, including labor innovators and meritorious persons, and posed for commemorative photos with them.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 10, 2026 9:07 am KST

This file photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency, Thursday, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un standing behind the podium during a national founding day ceremony the previous day. Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed special thanks to troops involved in overseas military operations and called on North Koreans to advance the country's development through patriotism, state media reported Thursday.

Kim made the remarks at a ceremony marking the 78th anniversary of the country's founding held in Pyongyang the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim extended gratitude to workers, service personnel and overseas compatriots' organizations while expressing "special thanks and high tribute" to the commanding officers and soldiers of the army involved in overseas military operations, according to the report.

He then emphasized the importance of patriotism and the contributions of the North Korean people.

"Our ideal is being realized rapidly thanks to patriotism, voluntary service and devoted contributions by all citizens praying for the country's prosperity, and our fighting morale for reaching the goal has also been greatly boosted," he said.

Kim also said the "righteous minds and efforts" of people who love and serve the country have become "the pillars of irresistible might" supporting the country's current development. He called on the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the government to "shoulder heavier responsibility, make a bigger stride and achieve dynamic advance."

Kim and other participants, including senior party, government and military officials, held red scarves in their hands and took an oath pledging loyalty to the socialist system and the regime.

Kim also met with representatives from various sectors, including labor innovators and meritorious persons, and posed for commemorative photos with them, the KCNA said.

Explore More