Before the opening of the congress, copies of Unidad Nacional, organ of the Party, which carried special write-ups under the title of "Leader of the Workers' Party of Korea" to celebrate leader Kim Jong Il's birthday, were distributed to all its participants.

A congratulatory message from the WPK Central Committee was read out at the congress after congratulatory speeches.

The congress adopted a statement supporting the WPK and the Korean people in the efforts to build a great prosperous and powerful nation and achieve the independent reunification of the country.

Under the outstanding Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il the WPK and the Korean people are working hard for the building of a thriving nation and independent reunification of the country, smashing with the might of Songun the offensive of the U.S. imperialists and their allied forces to stifle the DPRK, the statement said.

It expressed solidarity with the WPK and the Korean people in the efforts to adorn this year as a significant year of bringing about a new phase for independent reunification under the banner of the inter-Korean declarations.