This year marked the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung and the 70th anniversary of birth of leader Kim Jong Il and, at the same time, it saw the beginning of a new century of Juche.

Before greeting this significant year, the army and people of the DPRK suffered a great loss to the nation: The great Generalissimo Kim Jong Il passed away all of sudden.

Upon hearing the saddest news, all the service personnel and people throughout the country were overwhelmed with bitter grief and endless snow fell down from the sky, as if it had hardly repressed the sorrow.

They overcame the sorrow with thousand-fold strength and courage, looking up to the dear respected Kim Jong Un identical to Kim Jong Il.

They turned out as one in order to glorify this year as a proud year of victory in which a heyday of prosperity has been ushered in, true to the behests of Kim Jong Il.

When the U.S. and its followers were talking about a sort of "change" in the DPRK, its army and people united close as one around Kim Jong Un fully possessed of brilliant military strategy and commanding art, extraordinary political caliber and noble popular traits, holding him at the top post of the party and the revolutionary armed forces.

Touching events that have taken place in the DPRK this year represented a true picture of single-minded unity, a product of the leader's profound love for service personnel and people and their admiration and reverence for him.

The army and people of the DPRK achieved great successes in their efforts to usher in a new era of prosperous Korea and pave a wide avenue for victory after victory.

Under the wise leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Un they creditably carried out the cause of immortalizing the leaders.

They spruced up the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lie in state as a holy place of the sun.

Kim Jong Il's statues were erected in humble reverence in different parts of the capital and local areas including Mansu Hill, Kim Il Sung Military University and the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces.

February 16, the birthday of Kim Jong Il, was instituted as Day of the Shining Star, reflecting the ardent wishes of all service personnel and people of the DPRK.

The DPRK significantly celebrated the centenary of birth of Kim Il Sung after holding Kim Jong Un in high esteem.

Kim Jong Un said in his first nationally televised speech at the grand military parade that a hundred-year history of Kim Il Sung's nation clearly proved the truth that if a nation has an outstanding leader, it is possible to demonstrate the dignity of its country and nation and achieve prosperity, adding that it also put an end to the distress-torn history of the nation and put the dignity of the DPRK and its people on the highest level in the nation's history.

He paid highest tribute to the great Generalissimos who turned the DPRK, once a weak country ruthlessly trampled underfoot by big powers after being reduced to a theater for scramble, into a proud political and military power and made the Korean people demonstrate their dignity as independent people whom no one dares provoke.

Kim Jong Un said that the ever-lasting strategy of the Korean revolution and its final victory lie in advancing along the way of independence, Songun and socialism indicated by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. The single-minded unity, the invincible military power plus the industry revolution of the new century will lead to the thriving socialist nation, he added.

His speech in which he proudly reviewed a 100-year long history of Korea of the sun and indicated a bright way for the new century boundlessly moved all the service personnel and people of the DPRK and make a hot-wind of Kim Jong Un rise over the world.

The Korean people worked heart and soul with Kim Jong Il's noble patriotism, bringing about a great leap forward and innovations in the building of a knowledge-based economic power, a highly civilized thriving socialist nation.

The 100 percent homemade satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2 was successfully launched. The world recognized the might of space science and technology of the DPRK for peaceful purposes and it proudly ranked itself among the 10 major space powers in the world.

Noteworthy achievements have been made in the field of latest science and technology. Scientists and technicians of the DPRK succeeded in manufacturing combined machining center, a mother machine for processing bodies of CNC-based machine tools.

The Huichon Power Station, Tanchon Port and other modern bases were built in different parts of the country to fully promote development of national economy. Production processes of many industrial establishments were successfully updated as required by the age of knowledge-based economy. Changsong County realized modernization and scientification of its local industrial establishments on a high level, laying firm foundations for revitalizing production and improving the people's living standard. This experience of the county was generalized across the country.

Many monumental edifices including modern dwelling houses, centers for public entertainment, cultural and welfare and mass sports and service facilities have been built to bring the people greater joy and happiness.

The ordinance on enforcing the universal 12-year compulsory education was promulgated at the 6th Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly. This fully demonstrated once again the true picture of the DPRK advancing toward an education power.

The Moranbong Band was organized to fully meet the ever-increasing cultural and emotional requirements of the people.

The revolutionary creative style and enterprising and enthusiastic performing activities of the band are injecting immense energy into whole society and helping a new spirit of innovations and changes prevail in it.

A hot wind of sports is sweeping across the country.

The material, technological and institutional foundations conducive to the sports development of the country have been firmly laid. The State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission was organized and the Taekwon-Do Holly Center and Yanggakdo Sports Village were built.

Sportspersons of the DPRK fully demonstrated the spirit of Songun Korea with gold medals at the 30th Olympic Games and other international games.

The DPRK has bolstered up its military capability in every way and won a shining victory in defending the socialist homeland.

Greatly encouraged by the news of Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un's ceaseless inspection of the front, service personnel have more fully prepared themselves to be stalwart fighters equipped with strong capability to wage an actual war.

The whole country has been more firmly cemented as an impregnable fortress and the all-state, all-people defense system established more thoroughly.

The achievements made by the DPRK this year represent a great victory thanks to the tested leadership of Kim Jong Un, who enjoys absolute support and trust of all service personnel and people as he has inherited the idea, cause, intention and humanity of Kim Jong Il.

Looking back on 2012, it was a year when all service personnel and people were more firmly convinced that they are sure to win always as they are led by Kim Jong Un.

They will certainly build a thriving socialist nation of Juche on this land under his wise leadership.