Nigatu Dagnachew Cherinet, chairman of the Ethiopian Youth Study Group of the Juche Idea, said in his statement on Feb. 10 that the birth of Kim Jong Il was a great historic event which provided the Korean people and the oppressed people of the world with the dawn of the independence era.

He has led the Korean people in their drive to build a thriving nation with his unique Songun politics, demonstrating the dignity of the DPRK, the statement said.

Saber Ballul, head of a department of the Political Faculty of University of Damascus in Syria, said in a statement on Feb. 13 that under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il the DPRK has turned into a powerful country which does whatever it is determined to do.

Miguel Boieir, chairman of the Portugal-Korea Friendship Association, said in a statement on Feb. 14 that Kim Jong Il has made ceaseless journey of field guidance for building a socialist thriving country in Korea by carrying forward the cause of President Kim Il Sung.

The lifelong desire of Kim Il Sung, the ideal of Kim Jong Il, is being translated into reality in the DPRK, the statement stressed.