He said in the message that Jong Ju Yong paved the way for national reconciliation and cooperation and did really a great job for the development of the inter-Korean relations and the sacred cause of national reunification.

The fellow countrymen look back on the noble life of Jong who found a true patriotic road thanks to the boundless loving care and trust of Kim Jong Il, the peerlessly great man, and made the remaining years of his life shine.

Jong made up his mind to devote himself to the country and the nation even in the remainder of his life though he was engrossed in accumulating capital and expanding his business all his life.

He made his utmost efforts to pave the way for inter-Korean economic cooperation despite all sorts of accusations and obstructions by anti-reunification forces.

It was against this background that he visited the DPRK.

Kim Jong Il met him in October 1998 and fully supported the orientation of his work for inter-Korean cooperation and exchange.

Jong was completely attracted by his personality as a great man the moment he was received by the leader. He more energetically devoted himself to the patriotic work for reunification. He commenced the voyage of the first tourist ship in the East Sea in November of that year, thus paving the way for inter-Korean economic cooperation.

In his address made at the ceremony held to mark the departure of the ship he said that the day was significant as it marked the beginning of the large-scale exchange of people between the south and the north and he hoped this would provide an opportunity to reenergize the south-north reconciliation and economic cooperation.

In 1999, he made sure that basketball games for reunification took place in the north and the south.

He dedicated himself to the north-south economic cooperation till the last moments of his life on March 21, 2001 with the particular pride and honor of being the first businessman among the south Korean tycoons ever to meet Kim Jong Il and being received by him several times.

The south Korean people are now turning out in the actions for the improved inter-Korean relations, national reconciliation and cooperation and national reunification despite all challenges of the anti-reunification forces, following the example set by Jong.