They included friendship meetings, rallies and book and photo exhibitions in Vietnam, Italy and Pakistan.

Displayed at the venues were works of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and photos on their feats and books and photos introducing the DPRK.

The chairman of the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Association vowed to strive for the development of the friendly relations between the two countries.

The director of the International Department of the Leftwing People's Party of Communists of Italy said that Kim Jong Il further developed and enriched the Juche idea founded by Kim Il Sung into the guiding idea of the era of independence to clearly show the road to be followed by humankind.

The secretary general of the Karachi Branch of the Pakistan-Korea Friendship Association said that the DPRK has become the centre of the movement for global independence as it is led by Kim Jong Il, the great guide of the world's socialist cause.