February 16 is the birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il, eternal chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the statement said, and went on:

The Korean people and the world progressives highly praise him as the great leader and the sun of the 21st century as he devoted his whole life to bringing happiness to the people, ensuring justice and defending world peace and stability.

He achieved the single-minded unity of the whole society and weathered all ordeals and difficulties with trust in the people and comrades and benevolent politics and all-embracing politics.

His whole life was the one of his devotion to the work for rosy future of the country and its people.

It was the goal and worth of his life to work for the building of a rich and prosperous country and people's happiness.

His noble image will remain in the hearts of not only the Korean people but also the world progressives as he devoted himself to the country and its people.

Now the DPRK is vigorously advancing to achieve national reunification and build a thriving nation and winning world-startling victories under the wise guidance of HE Kim Jong Un who is carrying forward the idea and cause of the preceding leaders.