Kim Jong Il wisely guided the Workers' Party of Korea, servicepersons and people for scores of years, thus performing undying feats for the country and people, the times and history.

He saw to it that Kim Il Sung was held in high esteem as the eternal President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, thereby setting a noble example of perpetuating the memory of the leader without precedent in the world's history of politics.

While giving priority to military affairs, Kim Jong Il turned the DPRK into a politico-ideological and military power and a nuclear state, as well as a satellite manufacturing and launching state.

On the basis of the self-supporting national economy, he energetically pressed ahead with the industrial revolution in the new century to pave the way for building an economic power.

Meanwhile, he provided the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, the keynote of which is to achieve the national reunification by the Koreans themselves, stirring up the atmosphere for reconciliation and cooperation between the north and the south of Korea.

And, he had energetically propelled the global socialist movement and the human cause of independence under the banner of independence and justice.

The awarding represented the unanimous will of all the Korean people, and it is their highest tribute to him.

Leader Kim Jong Il was awarded this order already in 1978, 1982 and 1992.

The order was instituted in 1972.