Pyongyang, November 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Tuesday sent a message of greeting to Bashar Al-Assad, president of Syria and regional secretary of the Arab Baath Socialist Party, on the 41st anniversary of the corrective movement in Syria.

The message said:

I extend warm congratulations to you and the friendly Syrian people on the occasion.

The corrective movement conducted under the leadership of Hafez Al-Assad was an event of historic significance for the Syrian people in their struggle to build a prosperous new society.

Hoping that you and your government would achieve successes in the work for defending the country's sovereignty, security and stability, I sincerely wish you good health and happiness and the Syrian people steady progress and prosperity.