Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA): A circus of the National Acrobatic Troupe celebrating the 81st anniversary of national liberation was given at the Pyongyang Circus Theatre on August 16, amid joy and excitement of the people in the DPRK greeting the significant day when their great motherland newly emerged with pride.

Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’ Republic of Korea, enjoyed the performance.

When Kim Jong Un appeared in the auditorium amid the playing of welcome music, the participants raised stormy cheers of “Hurrah!”

On the occasion of the 81st anniversary of national liberation, he extended warm congratulations to all the people of the country including the servicepersons of the whole army who are creating a new era of comprehensive development with boundless love for their precious and sacred country and confidence and optimism about their cause.

Among the audience were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, other senior Party and government officials, children of anti-Japanese revolutionary martyrs and anti-Japanese patriotic martyrs, teaching staff and students of revolutionary schools, officials of ministries, national agencies and armed forces organs, and officials and labour innovators of industrial establishments and youth and students in Pyongyang.

The national anthem of the DPRK was played.

Put on the stage were colourful numbers including physical acrobatics “Wire-rope Walking” and “Fly Higher” which won top prizes at international circus festivals.

The elegant folk acrobatic works and refined numbers of high technique, full of deep emotion and vibrant vitality, showed well the aspect of the DPRK's acrobatic art blooming and developing day by day.

The distinctive pieces performed by a juggler familiar with the people made the audience fascinated with the world of mysterious jugglery.

The performance was acclaimed by the audience as it drew excitement, admiration and cheerful laughter.

Expressing great satisfaction over the acrobats’ successful performance, Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated them.

He met creative workers, artistes and officials of the National Acrobatic Troupe who added to joy and optimism on National Liberation Day through their excellent performance.

Saying that the troupe is a prestigious art organization as it has glorified the honour and prestige of the country while enjoying the love of the people through the creation of world-famous acrobatic works and active performance activities for over 70 years, he highly appreciated the services of the creative workers and artistes of the troupe who have contributed to the development of socialist culture by exerting influence peculiar to the acrobatic art.

Expressing belief and expectations that the creative workers and artistes of the troupe would create and perform a larger number of excellent acrobatic pieces, welcomed by the times and the people, by giving full play to their extraordinary creative talents, high skills and patriotic enthusiasm and thus bring about a new development and usher in a new heyday of the acrobatic art, he had a photo taken with them.

A swimming and diving contest took place on August 16 according to the schedule of the sports and cultural event marking National Liberation Day.

Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, enjoyed the contest.

All the participants were filled with great excitement and joy as they came to significantly celebrate National Liberation Day with the sports and cultural event in his presence.

When Kim Jong Un appeared in the natatorium, all the players and spectators raised enthusiastic cheers.

Among the spectators were leading officials of the Party, government and armed forces organs, officials of the WPK Central Committee, the Cabinet, ministries and national agencies and commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence.

A swimming contest was held by six teams, divided into men’s 100-metre freestyle and 100-metre breaststroke, women’s 100-metre freestyle and 100-metre breaststroke and 4×100-metre mixed medley relay in the order of backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly stroke.

The contest was so close amid the competitive spirit of players and the enthusiastic cheers of the spectators.

And a diving contest was held by three teams, divided into men’s and women’s individual 10-metre platform diving and mixed 10-metre platform synchronized diving.

In the swimming contest, the Sobaeksu Sports Team came first, the Ministry of Fisheries Sports Club second and the Suyangsan Sports Club third.

The Sobaeksu Sports Team came first in total standings also in the diving contest.

Then, followed a synchronized swimming demonstration.

An awards ceremony was held amid the applause of the participants.

The sports and cultural event in celebration of the 81st anniversary of national liberation boosted the festive mood of the auspicious holiday of the Korean people.