Pyongyang holds mass parade to celebrate ruling party congress

People react as they see DPRK leader Kim Jong-un during a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square, a day after the ruling party wrapped up its first congress in 36 years by elevating him to party chairman, in Pyongyang, DPRK, May 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

PYONGYANG - A mass rally and parade took place in central Pyongyang Tuesday to celebrate the end of the four-day Workers' Party Congress, which ended Monday in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, delivered a speech before the parade, in which he reiterated that the DPRK has become a nuclear state and congratulated top leader Kim Jong-un for being elected as chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

The parade mobilized hundreds of thousands of Pyongyang citizens and took months of practice. They walked past the podium, chanting in tears "Long live Comrade Kim Jong-un" and "Long live the WPK." Kim Jong-un waved to them from time to time.

Kim Jong-un was elected chairman of the WPK during the 7th party congress. He had been the first secretary of the party since April 2012.

DPRK leader Kim Jong-un waves from Kim Il-sung Square before the start of a mass rally to celebrate the successful Seventh Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), in this undated photo released by DPRK's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang, on May 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Meanwhile, two more individuals were elected to the WPK's Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, raising the number of committee members from three to five.

Previously, the members of the committee included Kim Jong-un, Kim Yong-nam and Hwang Pyong-so, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army.

The ruling party's 7th congress opened last Friday for the first time in 36 years. It was the first party congress since Kim Jong-un took power in late 2011.

The party congress not only mapped out a course for future development and mulled state and economic policies, but also became a chance to consolidate Kim Jong-un's grip on power and strengthen the people's loyalty to the core leadership.