DPRK official:Olympic torch relay in Pyongyang to astonish world

　　PYONGYANG, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Pyongyang was fully prepared for the Olympic torch relay and the "high-standard, outstanding, safe and successful" relay in the city would "astonish the world, "said a Olympic official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday.

　　Li Chong Sok, the vice chairman of the Organizing Committee for the torch relay in Pyongyang, said the top leader of the DPRK wished the torch relay in Pyongyang to be held successfully, in a press conference held on Thursday in the Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang.

　　The DPRK had made "sincere efforts" to ensure the torch relay in Pyongyang success, Li said. Firstly, they chose the historical buildings of the Tower of Juche Idea and the Kim Il Sung Stadium as the starting and ending points; secondly, high ranking officials of the DPRK will attend the launching ceremony and hundreds of thousands Pyongyang citizens will line the torch relay route to welcome the Olympic flame; and thirdly, famous DPRK athletes were selected as the bearers, he said.

　　The relay will start at 10:00 a.m. local time on April 28 and end at 3:15 p.m., he said.

　　The 20 kilometers route starts in the Tower of the Juche Idea, then goes to Chongryu bridge, the Friendship Tower, Chinese embassy, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, Pothong Gate, the People's Palace of Culture, the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, Pyongyang Railway Station, the Pyongyang Grand Theatre, Kim Il Sung Square, Revolution Street, the Chollima Statu, the Arch of Triumph and ends in the Kim Il Sung Stadium, he said.

　　80 torchbearers will take part in the relay, he added.

　　Pyongyang is the 18th stop of the Beijing Olympic torch relay around the world. The Olympic Flame will go to 21 cities on five continents before its journey continues in the Chinese mainland.