The Indonesian paper Republika on April 3 said in an article titled "Chairman of the National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il":

Kim Jong Il worked as chairman of the NDC shouldering upon himself the destiny of socialist Korea. In those historical days he defended socialism despite the unprecedented adversity and glorified the DPRK as an invincible political and military power no one dares provoke.

He applied the Songun politics in all fields, providing a sure guarantee for defending the sovereignty of the country and triumphantly advancing the socialist cause in whatever trials and adversities.

He fully consolidated the political and ideological position of the country and ushered in a new era of building a thriving nation.

The Nigerian paper Nigerian Observer on March 24 said in an article titled "Defender of Socialism":

He resolutely shattered the moves of the U.S.-led imperialist allied forces to stifle the DPRK late in the last century.

With his inspection of the dwarf pine post, he provided an occasion of a turning point in enforcing the Songun politics in all fields and strengthened the Korean People's Army into an invincible revolutionary army.