On Dec. 30 last year Xinhua news said under the title "Title of DPRK hero awarded to leader Kim Jong Il" that a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK was promulgated.

It went on:

The decree noted that Kim Jong Il performed undying revolutionary feats for the country and its people, the times and history by wisely leading the party, army and people of the DPRK for decades.

The Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly said that the title of the DPRK hero and Gold Star Medal and Order of National Flag First Class are awarded to Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, in reflection of the unanimous desire of all the party members, service personnel and people.

Huan Qiu Shibao, the People's Website, the Huan Qiu Website and other Internet homepages of China, ITAR-TASS, Voice of Russia and Jiji Press also reported the same news under such titles as "DPRK awards title of DPRK hero to leader Kim Jong Il and highly praises his feats" and "Title of DPRK hero awarded to leader Kim Jong Il who performed undying feats".