People lined up at those places to pay respects to the late leader's portraits even late at night.

There were servicepersons who pledged to uphold the Songun (military-first) politics started by Kim Jong Il with the arms in the art performances celebrating the day.

There were also industrial and agricultural workers who spent the day at their worksites renewing their pledge to implement behests of Kim Jong Il. Schoolchildren who received gifts this year, too, were also among the visitors.

They laid floral baskets, bouquets and flowers and bowed before the portraits of a smiling Kim Jong Il wishing for his immortality.

Kim Pyong Hup, a 78-year old war veteran living in Ryongbuk-dong, Taesong District, was interviewed by the KCNA. Asked why he came at night, not during the day, he said:

"Every year on this day, my family used to spend the night wishing Kim Jong Il good health. He is not now with us. We miss him very much. He is in the hearts of the Korean people."

They pledged to remain loyal to him and implement his behests with moral obligation.