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PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - APR. 11: North Korea has been gradually opening itself up again to the rest of the world amid some signs of change after sealing its borders to almost all foreigners for four months over Ebola fears. Seen from the outside, North Korea's bellicose rhetoric against its perceived adversaries remains the same, while in recent days, it has also fired a series of short-range missiles off its west coast. But political slogans along the streets of Pyongyang, in contrast to its antagonistic language toward countries such as Japan, South Korea and the United States, contain very different messages. Many of them call for concerted efforts to build a thriving nation under the guidance of leader Kim Jong Un. Flights on North Korea's national carrier Air Koryo to Pyongyang from Beijing before the sports event were almost packed. A Spanish couple, who had planned to be in Pyongyang five months ago, said they are glad to have finally been able to land in one of the world's most isolated countries for the first time. On Saturday, North Korea marked the third anniversary of Kim's official ascent to power as first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. It will hold a series of events in coming days for the 103th birthday of the country's late founder Kim Il Sung, the current leader's grandfather. The birth anniversary this year falls on Wednesday. Known also as the Day of the Sun, it is a major holiday in North Korea. For North Korea, 2015 is a major year, as it marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. In October, North Korea plans to hold a major military parade in Pyongyang to celebrate the anniversary, two months after the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule 70 years ago.