In its statement on Jan. 6 the Russian Association for the Study of the Juche Idea noted that last year the DPRK laid strong material and technical foundations to develop the light industry. We fully support General Secretary Kim Jong Il's line of building a thriving nation and the joint New Year editorial, it said.

Tin Tun, director of the Myanmar Medical Research Institute, in a statement on the same day said: It is entirely thanks to the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il that the ideal for a thriving nation is being translated into reality in an all-round way in the DPRK.

Riyad Chaloub, chairman of the Guinean National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, in a statement on Jan. 5 referred to last year's achievements of the Korean people mentioned by the joint editorial.

The Korean people led by Kim Jong Il will make big strides this year, too, he said.