They included the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Bangladesh, the Central Executive Committee of the Bangladesh National Socialist Party, the Paektusan Czech-Korean Friendship Association, the Czech Group for the Study and Materialization of the Juche Idea and officials of friendly organizations in Finland and Sweden.

In their joint statement on January 3 the Bangladeshi parties called on the political parties and organizations of all countries to fully support the Korean people in the efforts to build a great prosperous and powerful nation and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country under the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.

The organizations of the Czech Republic in their joint statement on January 4 referred to the brilliant successes gained by the DPRK in politics, economy, culture, science and technology and other fields under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il last year. And they expressed firm belief that the Korean people would successfully carry out the tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial.

The chairman of the Finland-Korea Society in a statement on January 3 expressed full support for the unshakable stand of the DPRK to achieve peace in Northeast Asia, denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and reunify the country in a peaceful way.

The successes made by the DPRK last year are a brilliant result of the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il who led the Korean people in the drive for a great surge with his ceaseless field guidance, standing in the van of the drive, said the chairman of the Sweden-Korea Friendship Association in a statement on Jan. 3.