The statement said:

Kim Jong Il was born in the secret camp in Mt. Paektu on February 16, 1942.

Born as son of guerillas, he grew up in the crucible of the hard-fought anti-Japanese war and the Fatherland Liberation War.

He was a genuine leader of the people as he always found himself among popular masses, sharing joys and sorrows with them.

He began his Songun revolutionary leadership by giving field guidance to Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Tank Division of the Korean People's Army in August, 1960 and started his work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in June, 1964.

He developed the Juche idea through his energetic ideological and theoretical activities and defended socialism by leading the DPRK in the grim period of the Arduous March.

And he pursued Songun politics, a treasured sword for winning a sure victory, under the uplifted banner of Songun.

The DPRK has grown stronger thanks to supreme leader Kim Jong Un.