Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- The 60-odd-year-history of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is marked by the Songun (military-first) leadership pursued by President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

Under the leadership of Kim Il Sung, the DPRK had beefed up the defense power and steadily pushed ahead with the building of a powerful nation in the rigorous periods of revolution -- the building of a new society, Fatherland Liberation War, postwar rehabilitation and construction, socialist revolution and socialist construction.

His cause of state building was put on a higher stage in the 1990s, with Kim Jong Il formulating Songun politics as a basic political mode of socialism in conformity with the changed circumstances of the times and the requirements of the developing revolution.

By dint of Songun politics, the country's political and military strength have been further increased and a great progress made in the economy and culture.

The DPRK has registered victory after victory in confrontation with U.S.-led imperialists to defend the country and successfully concluded the arduous march, the forced march, entering a new phase of building a powerful nation.

Unheard-of innovations have been reported in putting national economy, with defense industry as hardcore sector, on a Juche-oriented and modern basis. The country has also developed cutting-edge technologies in space development, nuclear fusion and CNC machinery.

Monumental edifices have appeared throughout the country and socialist culture has made a big headway.

All the tremendous achievements brought about by the illustrious Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il inspire the Korean people with a bright prospect of the republic.