A girl salutes to visitors before a show at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. Foreign journalists invited to cover North Korea's first ruling party congress in 36 years were treated on Thursday to song and dance performances by schoolchildren professing their love for leader Kim Jong Un. Kim is expected to use the congress starting on Friday to declare North Korea a nuclear weapons state and formally adopt his “Byongjin” policy to pursue economic development and nuclear capability at the same time. The presence of foreign reporters offers the world a rare view from inside the isolated country, but their movements are closely managed. The journalists were also shown after-school classes such as choir singing and guitar-playing at Mangyongdae Children's Palace in the capital Pyongyang. “Whenever I come here, I feel the love and affection of our great Marshal Kim Jong Un”, eight-year old Sun Ji Hoon said. The gala lasted around two hours, including orchestral, choir and acrobatic performances. Thousands of Pyongyang residents have been seen practicing dance and parade routines in the run-up to the Seventh Workers' Party Congress. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A guide leads visitors towards the Mangyongdae Children's Palace decorated with pictures of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Spectators clap hands during a performance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A model of a rocket is placed inside the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Spectators wait for the beginning of a performance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Girls perform on the stage of the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A rocket is projected on the screen as girls perform at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A member of staff looks from the balcony inside the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Children acknowledge the audience after performing on the stage of the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A teacher gives instructions to a student practicing dance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Students draw at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Spectators watch a performance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Students practice dance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A member of staff and spectators watch a performance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Spectators watch a performance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A girl plays the guitar at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Girls are wheeled on a sliding platform to the stage at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Children wave to spectators as the curtain is brought down at the end of a performance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Girls practice dancing at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Girls play guitars at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A member of staff looks from the balcony inside the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Children wave to spectators as the curtain is brought down at the end of a performance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Spectators wait for the beginning of a performance at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)