The Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) sent a message of thanks to Kim Jong Il for it on April 17.

The message said:

It is only the Korean residents in Japan who enjoy the honor and happiness of receiving so precious money for the education of their children generation after generation, though there are many overseas citizens in many countries of the world.

Kim Jong Il is, indeed, a kind teacher and tender-hearted father who has shown all loving care and benevolence for the Korean residents and school youth and children in Japan and led them to victory, holding them all in his broad embrace.

The officials of Chongryon and the Koreans residents in Japan who again received the great loving care and benevolence from Kim Jong Il are full of firm resolution to achieve a great success in the implementation of their patriotic tasks, ardently revering and following Kim Jong Il held at the top post of the DPRK, their genuine homeland.

Chongryon will share the same mind and the same breath with the people in homeland all out in a fresh general march forward true to the noble intention of Kim Jong Il and make this year a year of decisive turn in laying a granite foundation for ushering in the heyday of the movement of Chongryon and the Koreans in Japan.

We will ardently love the socialist homeland of Juche and firmly protect it and make an honorable contribution to the nation-wide cause of prosperity and reunification of the country.