The message said:

Warmly congratulating Your Excellency, and through you, the leadership body of the Workers' Party of Korea and friendly Korean people as regards the fact that H.E. leader Kim Jong Il who is living an eternal life is held in high esteem as eternal general secretary of the WPK and Your Excellency was elected first secretary of the WPK and first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, I wish you success in your noble duty.

Your election as first secretary of the WPK and supreme leader of the army and people is an expression of the trust of the leadership body and people of your country in you and revelation of the will to realize on higher level the cause of the Party, revolution, country and people and global independence which H.E. Kim Il Sung, founder and eternal President of the DPRK, hewed out and H.E. Kim Jong Il, eternal general secretary of the WPK, inherited.

Availing myself of this happy opportunity, I express conviction that the friendly and cooperative relations between our two countries would continue to strengthen in the interests of the peoples of the two friendly countries.

Extending sincere congratulations to Your Excellency once again, I wish you good health and happiness and the friendly Korean people greater progress and prosperity.