Vishwanath who doubles as secretary general of the International Kim Il Sung Prize Council and the International Kim Jong Il Prize Council released a statement on February 8.

HE Kim Jong Il was an illustrious leader of socialist Korea and brilliant successor of President Kim Il Sung's idea and cause, he said, adding: Kim Jong Il's birth anniversary serves as the greatest auspicious holiday common to not only the Korean people but other progressive people.

Kim Jong Il developed the Workers' Party of Korea into a party serving the people and a vanguard organization enjoying full trust from the people in the socialist cause and provided a firm foundation for building a thriving nation wisely leading the Korean people, he stressed.

Kim Jong Il firmly defended the sovereignty and dignity of the country frustrating the moves of the imperialists to stifle the DPRK by pursuing the unique Songun politics.

Vishwanath praised the exploits Kim Jong Il performed for the cause of national reunification.

Supreme leader Kim Jong Un with a strong sense of moral obligation for HE Kim Jong Il made sure that February 16, birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il, was instituted as the Day of the Shining Star, he said.

He vowed to join progressive people respecting Kim Jong Il in holding more active solidarity activities supporting the implementation of the inter-Korean joint declaration while disclosing and denouncing the moves of the U.S. and allies to stifle the DPRK.

Availing himself of the opportunity, he reaffirmed his full support to the just cause of the Korean people who turned out in the all-out action for defending the dignity and sovereignty of the country.

He said he was convinced that the Korean people who hold Kim Jong Un in high esteem would achieve great successes in the efforts for building a thriving nation and achieving national reunification.