Ri Yong Gum, a 57-year-old Pyongyang citizen, told KCNA:

"The Korean people will have their great desire realized. It is the duty and obligation of all the Koreans to always hold in high esteem leader Kim Jong Il, who devoted his all to the prosperity of the country and the happiness of people."

Pak In Gyu, 56, a Pyongyang citizen, said, "I will dedicate my all to erecting leader Kim Jong Il's statue on the highest level."

Kim Mi Yong, a section chief of Pyongyang Department Store No. 1, said:

"Listening to the special report, I thought of leader Kim Jong Il.

In his lifetime he performed great feats for the country and the people but never allowed anything to be done for himself, like erecting his statue and monuments. The Korean people felt so regretful for having no statue of Kim Jong Il to visit for mourning when he passed away.

I used to be touched so much each time I listened to news of the leader tirelessly guiding the building of a thriving nation, providing valuable wealth of the country. The Korean people will erect his statues and portraits as well as towers to his immortality across the country to hand down through generations his great exploits."