General Secretary Kim Jong Il has guided the work of preserving and glorifying the national character from the period of waging the revolutionary activities in Kim Il Sung University.

He made public the famous work "The Cultural Wealth Achieved by the Ancestors Should Be Treasured" on March 27, Juche 50 (1961).

In the work he noted that in conveying the history and culture of the country to the posterity, the fine cultural wealth made by the ancestors serves as an important mean for giving rise to patriotism of the people and raising their national pride.

He also stressed that the fine cultural wealth such as Koryo porcelain, Rijo Sillok (Chronicles of the Ri Dynasty) and metallic types created by the ancestors shows the outstanding wisdom and talent of the Korean people and that the Koreans should have a high pride of them and value them. His work serves as a valuable guideline in keeping the national character.

He authored the famous work "On Proper Evaluation and Treatment of the Cultural Heritage of Our Nation with a Correct Viewpoint and Attitude" and other works in the 1970s and many works such as "Let Us Give Full Play to the Korean Nation-First Spirit", "On Preserving the Juche Character and National Character of the Revolution and Construction" and "On Developing the National Music in Line with Modern Aesthetic Sense" in the 1980s and 1990s. In the works he gave clear-cut answers to the problems arising in preserving and glorifying the national traditions.

In his work "On Preserving the Juche Character and National Character of the Revolution and Construction" he clarified the issues of maintaining the standpoint of loving the country and nation, carrying on the revolution and construction in one's own way and raising the national pride, and put forth the tasks and ways for preserving the Juche character and national character and achieving the prosperity and development of the country.

Besides, the famous works including "The National Food Should Be Positively Encouraged and Developed" and "On Positively Keeping Alive the Fine National Traditions of Our People" which he made public in the days of the Songun revolutionary leadership constitute the priceless guideline for preserving and glorifying the national character. They are also encouraging the Korean people in their efforts to achieve the great prosperity of the socialist nation and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche, loudly sounding the bugle of the general advance.