The statement said that under the wise leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il the KPA has become the main force of socialist construction.

President Kim Il Sung clarified the position of the army and an important role played by it in the revolutionary struggle long ago, the statement said, adding that the DPRK's history is the history of the victorious Songun revolution.

Thanks to the Songun politics pursued by Kim Jong Il the KPA has firmly defended socialist system and reliably defended peace on the Korean Peninsula in any adversity, said the statement.

It went on:

Thanks to the wise Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il the KPA has firmly defended the peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but in the rest of the world despite the imperialists' persistent military pressure. The world progressive people fully support his Songun politics.

Under his Songun leadership the army and people of the DPRK will surely build a thriving socialist nation and achieve the country's independent and peaceful reunification.