Harising Khang, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), in a statement on April 2 said that the President enjoys boundless reverence from not only the Korean people but also the world progressive mankind as the great pioneer of the human cause of independence.

Thanks to his wise leadership the Workers' Party of Korea developed into a strong party which achieved its single-minded unity and Korea, once a backward colonial agrarian country, turned into a socialist power independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in national defence, the statement stressed.

It expressed the belief that the WPK and the Korean people would open the gate to a great prosperous and powerful socialist nation in 2012 marking the centenary of birth of Kim Il Sung under the correct guidance of Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the WPK.

The chairman of the Mfumalanga Provincial Committee of the South African Communist Party in a statement on April 3 referred to the immortal exploits performed by Kim Il Sung for the Korean revolution and the cause of global independence.

The history of African countries' struggle for achieving their independence and building a new society is associated with the President's undying feats and noble soul, the statement said.

It expressed firm belief that the President's noble cause would be successfully carried forward and accomplished by Kim Jong Il, a prominent statesman.