Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- President Kim Il Sung, whom the Korean people had acclaimed as their leader for the first time in the nation's history of fifty centuries, passed away at the age of 82 on July 8, Juche 83 (1994).

This shocking news plunged the people throughout the world into bitter grief.

State, government and party leaders and many prominent people of different countries sent condolatory messages over his demise. The UN secretary general visited the DPRK mission to express condolences and a flag at half-mast was hoisted at the building of the UN Headquarters.

The then U.S. President Bill Clinton released a statement of condolence.

During the mourning period (July 8-20), more than 700 press media in 120 countries dedicated special write-ups to President Kim Il Sung's demise and some 200 news agencies and radios introduced his exploits on 2,200 occasions.

Kim Il Sung founded the immortal Juche idea to usher in a new era of history.

He authored more than 10,800 celebrated works, clearly showing the road ahead of the Korean people and the world progressives.

He led the wars against the Japanese and U.S. imperialists to victory and successfully carried out the anti-imperialist, anti-feudal democratic revolution and the socialist revolution to build a socialist power independent in politics, self-supporting in the economy and self-reliant in defence and opened up broad vista for national reunification.

His greatest feat for the times and mankind was that he successfully settled the issue of giving continuity to leadership for the accomplishment of the cause of Juche.

Since the country's liberation, Kim Il Sung paid official and unofficial visits to a total of 87 countries on 54 occasions, which took 685 days.

He met a total of more than 70,000 foreigners from 136 countries all his life.

He was awarded 180 highest orders and medals from 70 odd countries and international organizations, honorary citizenship from 30 cities and honorary professorship and doctorate from 20 reputed universities.

The President was presented with 569,000 pieces of gifts from local people, 165,920 pieces from party, state and government leaders and people of 169 countries, overseas and south Koreans.

His statues were erected in China and Mongolia and the International Kim Il Sung Prize instituted. More than 480 streets, institutions and organizations in 100 countries were named after Kim Il Sung.

Even after his demise, the world progressives have awarded orders, medals and honorary titles to the President, honoring him with many gifts.

Leader Kim Jong Il, the supreme incarnation of moral obligation, set an example of perpetuating the memory of the preceding leader, thus leaving Kim Il Sung forever in the hearts of the Korean people and the world people.

The idea and feats Kim Il Sung performed in the 20th century have been fully carried forward and his glorious history continues uninterruptedly along with prospering Songun (military-first) Korea.