General Secretary Kim Jong Il, through his uninterrupted inspection tours of army units and on-the-spot guidance to economic sectors throughout the country, has encouraged all the servicepersons and people to fully display their spiritual strength in the building of a powerful country, indicating ways of making a great leap forward and innovations.

In the days of building a strong economy the Korean people's politico-ideological traits of deeply revering and devotedly defending the leadership of the revolution have been manifested on a higher level.

This year's drive of the Korean people for a great upsurge is not just for an economic revitalization but for defending the leadership of the revolution and safeguarding their ideology, social system and cause.

The Korean people, with a strong will to carry forward through generations the spirit of devotedly defending the leader displayed by anti-Japanese heroine Kim Jong Suk, have made world-startling miracles and changes in their efforts for a new great upsurge under unprecedentedly difficult conditions.

Production has been increased considerably in all sectors of the heavy industry including the four key sectors of the national economy, machine-building, chemical and building-material industries. In particular, the defense industry, a pillar of the self-supporting socialist economy, has registered great successes, a good omen for building a thriving nation, and the metallurgical industry has witnessed such a great event as the completion of a Juche-oriented iron production system.

The "Huichon Speed", a speed of the drive for a great upsurge, has been created in major projects including the Huichon Power Station, the Kumyagang Power Station, the Orangchon Power Station and the gasification of the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex, and Mansudae Street, the Taedonggang Tile Factory and other monumental edifices of the Songun era have sprouted up in different parts of the country.

The foundation and potentiality for consumer goods production have been further cemented and increased, great achievements gained in the efforts for putting the national economy on a Juche-oriented, modern and scientific basis and a rapid development brought about in all scientific and technological sectors including the space field.

All the successes made by the Korean people this year have fully demonstrated to the world the indomitable conviction and will of the heroic people united in one mind around the headquarters of the revolution.

The Korean army and people will accomplish the cause of building a great, prosperous and powerful nation without fail, conveying down through generations the immortal revolutionary feats
Kim Jong Suk performed in leaving to the Korean nation the spirit of devotedly defending the leader, a treasured sword for the victory of the Juche-oriented revolutionary cause, as their everlasting property.