The British Association for the Study of Songun Policy and the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea said in a joint statement on Jan. 4: The joint editorial embodies President Kim Il Sung's idea of believing in the people as in Heaven and reflects the principle of activities of the DPRK and the Workers' Party of Korea which regard the improvement of the people's standard of living as the most important affair.

The joint editorial will encourage the followers of the Juche idea, Songun idea and the people aspiring after independence, peace and socialism in the world, said the statement.

We are sure that the Korean people will successfully carry out the tasks laid down in the editorial and thus show the might of the DPRK and build a prosperous socialist paradise, it added.

The British Branch of the Korean Friendship Association, too, released a statement on the same day in which it expressed belief that the joint editorial would contribute to improving the people's standard of living and realizing national reunification and global peace and independence.

The Egypt-Korea Friendship Association issued a statement on Jan. 3, expressing full support for the part on national reunification in the joint editorial.

The Association urged the south Korean authorities to repeal the anti-reunification policy of confrontation with their fellow countrymen, respect and implement the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and stop the anti-DPRK smear campaign and the crackdown on the patriotic forces for reunification.