North Korea is ramping up a festive atmosphere ahead of tomorrow, which it celebrates as "Victory Day," marking the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement, by hyping up commemorative events and welcoming veteran soldiers attending the gatherings.

The Korean Central News Agency reported today that "grand celebrations for the 73rd anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War will take place in the capital city of Pyongyang," adding that the war veterans and wartime contributors invited to the events arrived in Pyongyang the previous day.

The agency stated that "officials of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee warmly greeted the veterans and wartime contributors at Pyongyang Station and their respective lodgings," and that "citizens and youth students along the streets of the capital waved at the motorcade of buses carrying the war veterans and wartime contributors, sending them greetings of respect and congratulations."

General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong-un sent gifts to veterans across the country.

Kim stated while sending the gifts, "The mere presence of our veteran comrades in good health serves as infinite strength to our Party and people and a great encouragement to our revolution," the news agency reported.

The agency reported that the veterans and their families who received the gifts "expressed their deep gratitude to the Marshal, who repeatedly bestows immense benevolence so that they can live proud and happy lives while highly valuing the exploits achieved by the generation of victory."

Visits to revolutionary historic sites and meetings with veterans continued across various regions.

The Rodong Sinmun reported that ahead of "Victory Day," meetings between war veterans and youth students were held in Pyongan Province, Hwanghae Province, North Hamgyong Province, and Nampo City, and that streams of officials, workers, Korean People's Army service members, and youth students continued to visit the revolutionary historic sites in Yupyeong, Changgol, Gosanjin, and Hyangha.

The Rodong Sinmun also reported that since the opening of the Fatherland Liberation War Victory Museum over a decade ago, some 3.8 million people have visited, and that organizations of the General Federation of Trade Unions at all levels are carrying out various educational programs, such as visiting ideological education bases, to inherit the spirit of the generation of victory.

North Korea, which claims it fought and won against the United States in the Korean War, designated the signing date of the armistice agreement as the "Fatherland Liberation War Victory Day" in 1973, and later elevated it to a national holiday called "Victory Day" in 1996, using it as an important opportunity to tighten internal unity.

Although this year is not a major milestone year typically emphasized by socialist countries, large-scale troop transport trucks have been spotted at Mirim Airfield in Pyongyang, leading to projections that a military parade may be held on the occasion of "Victory Day."

An official from the Ministry of Unification stated that, judging by satellite imagery up to recently, a parade featuring symbolic columns without weapons is expected.

(Photo: Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap News)