Tens of thousands of people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have celebrated the country's rocket launch. About 100-thousand Pyongyang citizens turned out in Kim Il-Sung square, a signature spot in memory of the country's founder and late leader.

DPRK leader Kim Yong-Il did not attend the celebration, but Kim Yong Nam, the head of the Supreme People's Assembly was present, along with other senior officials from the government and the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

Speaking at the rally, the officials praised Sunday's rocket launch. They said putting a satellite into orbit demonstrated the technological might of "socialist Korea".

(CCTV April 9, 2009)