Pyongyang, February 18 (KCNA) -- Army-people rallies took place in North Phyongan, Jagang and South Hamgyong provinces on Monday to hail the third underground nuclear test.

Present at the rallies were leading officials of the party and power organs and working people's organizations, service personnel of the Korean People's Army and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, officials of factories, enterprises, co-operative farms, universities and colleges, teachers and students and other people in the province.

Speakers at the rallies said that the successful nuclear test is a historic event that smashed the brigandish campaign of "sanctions" launched by the U.S. in wanton violation of the DPRK's right to satellite launch for peaceful purposes.

The great victory is a brilliant fruition of the wise leadership of the party, they said.

They called for bringing about a upswing in building a thriving nation with the pride of demonstrating the spirit of a nuclear weapons state.

They said that the nuclear test clearly showed the world that the DPRK showed that if the hostile forces continuously go on the rampage and stepped up the pressure on the DPRK, it would take tougher countermeasures

The speakers called for ending the confrontation with the U.S. that has lasted century after century and waging a dynamic struggle to build a thriving socialist nation, the most powerful nation in the world, on this land, united close around the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un.