The message said:

On the occasion of the 23rd Congress of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan which is held in the historic period when a fresh turn is being effected in the implementation of the revolutionary cause of Juche and the movement of Koreans in Japan, I extend warm congratulations to the deputies who have participated in the congress and all other compatriots in Japan along with the hearts of the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

The past four years since the 22nd Congress of Chongryon were a proud period when Chongryon officials and other compatriots in Japan made great successes in their efforts to usher in a new heyday of the Japan-based Koreans' movement with the firm conviction that the Generalissimos will always be with us and true to the instructions of General Kim Jong Il.

Chongryon and the compatriots consolidated the interior of their organization as solid as a rock and expanded and strengthened their own patriotic forces, braving trials and hardships in the difficult circumstances in the foreign country where the obstructive moves of reactionaries at home and abroad persist, and conducted a variety of mass movements vigorously to lay the solid foundation for the victorious advance of the Japan-based Koreans' movement.

Chongryon conducted a powerful publicity campaign for national reunification and encouraged and supported the just struggle of south Korean people under the idea of By Our Nation Itself, and manifested all patriotic, material and moral sincerity for the building of an economic giant and cultured nation in the homeland with ardent love for the socialist country.

Highly appreciating that Chongryon firmly defended the organization, the precious patriotic legacy of the peerless great men of Mt. Paektu, and made proud successes in the overall patriotic work in the period under review, I offer heartfelt thanks to all the Chongryon officials and other compatriots in Japan.

The 23rd Congress, Chongryon's first congress held on the march in the new century of the Juche era, is a historic meeting of key significance in boosting the Japan-based Koreans' movement onto a higher stage at a historic turning point for accomplishing the revolutionary cause of Juche.

Chongryon officials and the compatriots should staunchly defend and add glory to the idea on the Juche-oriented overseas compatriots' movement of the peerless great men of Mt. Paektu and their immortal exploits and conduct all work of Chongryon as intended and wished by the great Generalissimos.

Chongryon should thoroughly establish the ideological and leadership systems of Juche, advance resolutely through all challenges and difficulties on the strength of single-minded unity and pay close attention to bolstering up its branches, chapters and other primary organizations.

It should steadily improve the contents and methods of education in line with the requirements of the age of the knowledge economy by centring its patriotic movement on democratic national education and channel greater efforts into the work with younger generations and Korean business persons.

In particular, it should work with younger generations well to steadily carry on the traditions of loyalty, single-minded unity and love for the country and nation established by patriotic forebears and positively fire the patriotic enthusiasm of the business persons to make them fulfill their responsibility and duty as the motive force of the Japan-based Koreans' movement.

Chongryon officials and other compatriots should make a tangible contribution to the building of a thriving socialist country, cherishing Kim Jong Il's patriotism in their hearts, and wage a powerful struggle to put an end to foreign interference and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country by the united efforts of our nation.

Chongryon should carry on more positive and brisker external activities to defend and extend the legitimate status and democratic national rights of organizations at all levels and compatriots in Japan.

Its officials are the hard core of the Japan-based Koreans' movement and the organizers and educators who inspire the masses of compatriots from all walks of life to the patriotic campaign.

All the Chongryon officials should be their true servants who always live and work among them to give free rein to their patriotic enthusiasm and devotion and who dedicate their all to ensuring a happy and affluent future of the compatriots and their children.

The Chongryon organization and compatriots founded and brought up by the great Generalissimos should invariably exalt their honour as the exemplary organization of the Juche-oriented overseas compatriots' movement and pacesetters for ardent patriotism who throw in their lot with the socialist motherland.

Victory and glory are always in store for Chongryon which dynamically advances along the road of Juche, the road of patriotism and the road of prosperity together with the socialist country under the eternal blessings of the great Generalissimos.

Firmly believing that the 23rd Congress of Chongryon would make a historic milestone for ushering in a new heyday of the Japan-based Koreans' movement and mark an epochal occasion for promoting the overall work of Chongryon a stage upward, I sincerely wish the congress excellent success.