Rodong Sinmun in an editorial dedicated to the anniversary says that his start of the leadership of the WPK provided a sure guarantee for successfully carrying forward the revolutionary cause of Juche started on Mt. Paektu and made it possible for the WPK to demonstrate its might as a great guide leading the country to a bright future as the party of the leader, the editorial notes, and goes on:

Kim Jong Il is the representative of the WPK and a peerless political elder as he has led the party and the revolution to victories only with his matchless and distinguished political caliber and noble popular traits.

Under his wise leadership the WPK has developed into a dignified party shining with the august name of President Kim Il Sung, an invincible party whose members are rallied close around the leader in monolithic idea and will and a great guide that has formed a harmonious whole with the popular masses.

The history of Kim Jong Il's leadership over the party is shining as a sacred history during which he developed the party into Kim Il Sung's party, an invincible and steel-strong party that leads the Songun revolutionary cause and the most powerful militant party which ushered in a great heyday for the country's prosperity.

It is the greatest honor of the army and people of the DPRK to hold Kim Jong Il in high esteem as he established the most precious revolutionary traditions and has performed undying feats, thus decorating nearly half a century of his revolutionary activities at the C.C., the WPK with legendary and heroic epics, possessed of his extraordinary ideological and theoretical wisdom, distinguished leadership ability and the noblest virtues.

The editorial calls upon the whole party and army and all the people to wage a more dynamic struggle to build a great prosperous and powerful socialist nation and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche, cherishing the highest honor of having him at the helm of the party and the revolution.