Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on August 30 sent a message to Mahmoud Abbas, president of the State of Palestine, in reply to his congratulations and best wishes sent to the former on the 66th anniversary of Korea's liberation.

The reply message said:

I express deep thanks to you for sending me congratulations and best wishes on the 66th anniversary of the national liberation of our people.

I, availing myself of this opportunity, sincerely wish you and the Palestinian people successes in their struggle to build an independent state with Kuds as its capital.