He conducted experienced and positive external activities on the basis of his clairvoyant insight into the trend of the complicated world politics and the prevailing situation, achieving distinguished successes of landmark significance in the new century.

He injected great vitality into the development of the DPRK-China friendly relations over the past more than decade, placing the ties of friendship and fraternity on a new phase.

In 2001 he paid a historic visit to China, developing the DPRK-China friendship as required by the new century and the trend of the development of the international relations.

He visited China twice in a year, in 2010 and 2011, providing a fresh milestone of traditional friendship.

He recorded a brilliant chapter in the history of the DPRK-Russia friendship.

The Russian president visited the DPRK for the first time as head of state in 2000 on invitation of Kim Jong Il during which a joint declaration was adopted between the DPRK and Russia and as a result, the bilateral relations made a marked progress.

Kim Jong Il paid a series of historic visits to Russia, performing distinguished feats for the development of the DPRK-Russia relations, establishment of a new world order based on justice and peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world.

He met with progressive figures including leaders of the communist and workers' parties of various countries of the world, instilling into them firm confidence in the victory of socialism and rosy future of the human cause of independence.

He also met with former and incumbent heads of state and government and political figures of various countries and representatives of international and regional organizations and had candid discussions with them, indicating ways to solve issues concerning international relations.

He paid attention to the issue of improving and developing relations with Western countries.

He met with the U.S. secretary of State who visited the DPRK in October, 2000 and had an in-depth exchange of views on improving the DPRK-U.S. relations.

He conducted activities to put an end to the hostile relations between the DPRK and Japan, the leftover of the 20th century.

In an answer given to the questions put by the president of the Kyodo News Service of Japan on September 14, 2002 Kim Jong Il said the DPRK and Japan, both Asian countries, should be on good terms, coexist and co-prosper as near and close neighbors, not near yet distant countries.

An important event took place in the history of the DPRK-Japan relations thanks to his bold political decision, broad magnanimity and extraordinary diplomatic strategy to settle the issue of the abnormal DPRK-Japan relations from a broad perspective.

The prime minister of Japan, which has been hostile to the DPRK for decades, paid a visit to Pyongyang for the first time in history and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration in which the latter committed itself to settle its past crimes and improve the bilateral relations.

He paved a wide avenue for developing the relations with foreign countries through his diplomacy based on independence.

When the highest-ranking delegation of the European Union was visiting the DPRK in May, 2001 he received it, opening a fresh phase in the relations between the DPRK and EU through the establishment of diplomatic relations.

He conducted wide-ranging external activities involving not only political circles but media and economic circles.

Among the foreign delegations and friends he met and accorded cordial hospitality were the delegation of the "C. I. S. Estero" Group of Italy, the executive chairman of the Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holdings SAE of Egypt and the president of the Washington Times.

The broad smile Kim Jong Il had on his face when showing invariable sense of obligation to the foreign friends with whom he once forged friendship is always remembered by people of the world.

The feats he performed through his energetic external activities will last forever for their rich and profound contents and for their attraction.