The full text of the letter is as follows:

I feel happy that Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) is greeting the 60th anniversary of its founding in the stirring period when a dynamic struggle is being waged to celebrate the 70th anniversaries of national liberation and founding of the Workers' Party of Korea as grand national events.

On the occasion of this anniversary, I extend warm congratulations and compatriotic greetings to Chongryon officials including Chairman Ho Jong Man and to all other compatriots in Japan.

Chongryon is a prestigious body of the overseas citizens of our Republic, which the great Comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il formed and led.

The proud road travelled by Chongryon bears the imprints of the wise guidance and painstaking efforts of the great leaders, who strengthened and developed Chongryon into a Juche-based overseas compatriots' body that represents the rights and interests of all the Koreans resident in Japan.

The great Comrade Kim Il Sung was the pioneer of an overseas compatriots' movement in the era of independence, founder of Chongryon and saviour and benevolent father of the Koreans resident in Japan.

With an insight into the actual situation of the movement of Koreans in Japan which was wandering at the crossroads of rise and fall in search of its correct road, the President saved the movement from the crisis by advancing a sagacious policy on the change of its line, and had Chongryon, the first-ever Juche-based overseas compatriots' body, formed. He indicated the road ahead of Chongryon at every stage of the development of the movement of Koreans in Japan, and led with great affection the organization and Koreans resident in Japan to follow the road resplendent with glory.

The great Comrade Kim Jong Il was an outstanding leader who, true to the President's great idea, developed Chongryon into a pacesetter of patriotism, into a model of patriotic loyalty to the motherland and into a prototype body of overseas compatriots. He was also the saviour of the destiny of Chongryon and the Koreans resident in Japan.

He built up the ranks of Chongryon officials into single-heartedly united ranks strong in ideology and faith, and defended the organization on the strength of Songun. Regarding Chongryon as part of the socialist country and the Koreans resident in Japan as his own flesh and blood, he ensured that even in the difficult days, when the country was making the Arduous March, material and spiritual assistance was rendered unsparingly to the development of the national education by Chongryon, the dignity of Koreans in Japan and their stabilized life. Thanks to his trust and warm affection, Chongryon could demonstrate its pride in being a model overseas compatriots' body across the world.

Indeed, the 60 years of Chongryon is a brilliant history of the idea of Juche-based overseas compatriots' movement put forward by the great leaders and their wise guidance, and a history adorned with legendary tales of their ennobling love for the nation and overseas compatriots.

Under the wise guidance of the peerlessly great men of Mt. Paektu and enjoying their affection, Chongryon has travelled over the past six decades a glorious road of development, and performed great exploits for the motherland and the nation.

Sharing the destiny of the great leaders and the motherland, it has developed into invincible ranks that fully demonstrate its might of single-hearted unity. In the crucible of the struggle to establish the ideological and leadership system of Juche, it has become a truly Juche-based, patriotic body that regards believing in and following only the great leaders and realizing their intentions and wishes as its inherent duty. Today as a powerful body that has been rallied organizationally and ideologically based on the great Juche idea and that has struck its root deep among the broad sections of the masses of the Koreans resident in Japan, it is forcefully promoting the movement of Koreans in Japan. This is a proud, true feature of Chongryon.

Chongryon is demonstrating its might as a promising body which is invariably carrying forward the baton of patriotic work. In the face of difficult conditions in an alien land, it brings up the children of Korean compatriots into true patriots through its well-knit network of national education ranging from primary school to university, and has trained the hard core of the masses of Korean compatriots of the new generation including the core youth and businesspeople who will add brilliance to the history of the movement of Koreans in Japan, and they are stoutly carrying on the lineage of patriotic devotion. This is a pride of Chongryon and a source of its might.

Chongryon has rendered an active contribution to the sacred cause of achieving the prosperity of the socialist DPRK and the reunification of the nation. Its officials and other compatriots in Japan have rendered distinctive services to the prosperity of their motherland out of ardent patriotism, breathing the same air and keeping step with the people in their homeland. With confidence in the veracity of the policies of our Party and the government of the Republic on national reunification, Chongryon has done its best to implement them and contributed to cementing solidarity with the people of Japan and the rest of the world and raising the international profile of the Republic.

Our Party and the government of the Republic feel their greatest pride in having Chongryon, a patriotic overseas compatriots' body boundlessly faithful to its leaders, homeland and nation.

Availing myself of this opportunity, I offer tribute to Chongryon officials of the elder generations including Han Tok Su and other patriotic compatriots who dedicated all their lives to holding the great leaders in high esteem, organizing Chongryon and strengthening the movement of Koreans in Japan, and extend warm thanks to all the officials of Chongryon and other Korean compatriots in Japan who are devoting all their energy and zeal to accomplishing Chongryon's patriotic cause without seeking any personal fame or reward.

Chongryon and Korean compatriots in Japan are now faced with the honourable task of adding glory to the immortal exploits of the great leaders and bringing about a new upsurge in the movement of Koreans in Japan by keeping step with the people in the homeland on a general onward march.

Chongryon should do all of its undertakings thoroughly as intended and wished by the great leaders, and usher in a new heyday of the movement of Koreans in Japan true to the General's instructions.

It should strengthen and develop itself as befits a powerful, Juche-based overseas compatriots' body that shines with the august names of the peerlessly great men of Mt. Paektu.

It should pay primary concern to establishing the ideological and leadership system of Juche across its organizations and carry on this work without letup.

It should hold the great Comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in high esteem for ever, and staunchly defend and add eternal brilliance to their idea of building up Chongryon and their undying leadership exploits. It should take their ideology and achievements as the eternal guideline for the movement of Koreans in Japan, and thoroughly implement the instructions they gave Chongryon and the compatriots in Japan.

It should continue to give priority to consolidating the single-hearted unity of its ranks in every way.

All the organizations and officials of Chongryon, regarding this unity as the great foundation of the movement of Koreans in Japan, should rally themselves around the central leadership with one mind and purpose, and accomplish its patriotic cause, which was pioneered with comradely unity, by dint of comradeship. Its organizations should keep in mind that the single-hearted unity of the ranks of Chongryon and the warm affection shared by the compatriots are a source of its might and a new heyday of the movement of Koreans in Japan, and make every possible effort to unite the masses of the compatriots rock-solid.

It is important to conduct more dynamically the information and education work aimed at giving full play to the spiritual strength of Chongryon officials and other compatriots.

Chongryon should concentrate its efforts on the education of its officials and other compatriots in the greatness of the great leaders and Kim Jong Il's patriotism, and make constant efforts to educate them in the Korean-nation-first spirit and in the history and traditions of the movement of Koreans in Japan. In accordance with the changed situation, it should intensify education in faith so that all its officials and other compatriots including the new generation will steadily follow the road which has been travelled by their preceding generations, cherishing in their minds firm belief in the invincibility of their socialist motherland and the validity of the patriotic cause of Chongryon.

In line with the demands and conditions of the prevailing situation, Chongryon should establish a well-knit information and education system and make strenuous efforts to constantly create new and effective forms and methods of information and motivation work. Mass media, including Joson Sinbo, should increase their appeal by writing and editing their articles in a way that they suit to the characteristics and preparedness of readers. The Kumgangsan Opera Troupe and the song and dance troupes in local areas, as befit Juche-based overseas Korean national art groups developed under the leadership of the leaders, should conduct brisk artistic activities as suited to the emotion and psychology of the compatriots so as to deeply implant the soul of the Korean nation in them and inspire their patriotic enthusiasm.

Chongryon should build its subordinate organizations into powerful, patriotic ones which have taken root deep among the masses of the compatriots.

It should strengthen its chapters, branches and other grass-roots organizations into reliable buttresses infused with the love for the homeland and nation. It should direct its efforts to solidifying its chapters, the regional bases of the movement of Koreans in Japan. It should also enliven its branches, the basic units of living for the compatriots, in order to make every place where Koreans live brim over with harmony, unity and love for the country and nation. Chongryon organizations and affiliates at all levels should conduct powerful mass political work among compatriots to rally them in a larger number. By doing so, it can consolidate and continuously expand the mass foundation of the movement of Koreans in Japan. Adhering to the mass line in all types of its work, Chongryon should give top and absolute priority to affording the compatriots convenience in their living and defending and guaranteeing their interests, and solve all problems by relying on their patriotic

enthusiasm and creative efforts.

In order to expand and strengthen its patriotic motive force, Chongryon should channel all its efforts into a campaign to win back the compatriots while promoting it in close combination with various movements to develop national culture, mass-based sports activities, campaign to defend Koreans' rights, and service and welfare activities. By doing so, it should develop the campaign to win back the compatriots into a powerful one that advances forward by the efforts of Koreans, they themselves being its master.

It should continue to direct strenuous efforts to championing the democratic national rights and interests of Koreans in Japan and to developing national education, work with young people of the new generation and work with businesspeople.

Defending and guaranteeing the democratic national rights and interests of the Koreans resident in Japan is the basic mission and duty of Chongryon. Chongryon should make positive efforts to safeguard and expand all the rights our compatriots are entitled to as overseas citizens of a sovereign state, such as the rights to education, business and free travel to their motherland, and staunchly fight against all sorts of discriminative measures and inhumane acts that infringe upon their rights and interests.

National education is what Chongryon should invariably hold fast to as one of its central tasks. It should direct its main efforts to establishing the Juche orientation in its educational work and thus imparting love for the country and national identity, while improving the contents and methods of education as required by the era of the knowledge-based economy, thus giving play to the advantages and vitality of the democratic national education. Korea University should steadily improve its education level as befits a base for training able personnel for Chongryon, and thus bring up its students into genuine patriots and competent specialists. By doing so, it can exalt its authority and fame as the dignified university of the Republic's overseas citizens.

In the present situation when the younger generation is emerging in the society of Korean compatriots as the leading force of the patriotic movement of Chongryon, the future of the movement of Koreans in Japan depends on how these young people are brought up. Chongryon should train them into reliable successors who would carry forward the cause of Chongryon, a patriotic legacy bequeathed by the great leaders, invariably whatever the trials. The Korean Youth League in Japan, the Association of Korean Young Men of Commerce in Japan and the Union of Korean Students in Japan should add brilliance to the valuable inheritances the preceding generations achieved, and lead young Korean compatriots to live honourably anytime and anywhere keeping in mind that they are Koreans by origin. The Union of Democratic Korean Women in Japan should intensify its work with the women compatriots of the younger generation so that they can preserve the national identity of the society of Koreans an

d carry forward the proud tradition of turning one of the wheels of the patriotic movement of Chongryon.

Businesspeople, one of the basic sections of the masses under Chongryon and the main force in the movement of Koreans in Japan, should be actively enlisted in the patriotic work of Chongryon. The Federation of Korean Men of Commerce in Japan and other economic organizations should effectively protect and render wholehearted assistance to compatriots in their commercial and business activities, and thus ensure that they conduct their activities with great vigour.

By rendering services to hastening the prosperity and development of their socialist motherland and national reunification, Chongryon and our compatriots in Japan should perform the mission and patriotic duty they have assumed for the country and the nation.

They should devote their patriotic efforts to the sacred cause of achieving the prosperity of their socialist motherland.

The destiny of our overseas compatriots is linked with that of their motherland; when their motherland becomes strong, the prestige of their organizations and themselves gets enhanced. Chongryon officials and our compatriots in Japan should champion the dignity and prestige of their socialist motherland in every way possible, and contribute to building theirs into a thriving socialist nation, those with strength dedicating their strength, those with knowledge devoting their knowledge and those with money donating their money.

They should uphold the three charters for national reunification, the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration, and wage the national reunification movement dynamically. Chongryon should strengthen national unity with Koreans affiliated with "Mindan" (Federation of "ROK" Residents in Japan), and support and encourage the just struggle of their fellow countrymen in south Korea for independence, democracy and national reunification.

Under the ideals of independence, peace and friendship, Chongryon should develop friendly ties with the progressive personages from various strata and other people of Japan so as to create on its own initiative an environment and conditions favourable for its work and the movement of Koreans in Japan and to help promote the DPRK-Japan relations.

For the success in ushering in a new heyday of the movement of Koreans in Japan at present, Chongryon should establish a well-regulated system of its work and improve its guidance methods in keeping with the changed situation and environment.

The Central Committee of Chongryon should consistently carry out the tasks discussed and decided on the principle of democratic centralism, and intensify its unified guidance over its subordinate organizations, affiliates and other organs at all levels to ensure that they work in a lively manner and carry out their tasks. The prefectural headquarters of Chongryon should establish discipline and order whereby they carry out the decisions and directives of the Central Committee by relying on collective wisdom, and discharge their responsibility and role as regional leadership units of the movement of Koreans in Japan. The central leadership bodies of the affiliates and other organs of Chongryon should establish a well-regulated system of work in line with their characteristics, and bring guidance and assistance closer to their subordinate units to perform with credit the patriotic work in their respective fields.

It is important to improve the work methods as demanded by the actual situation of Chongryon and the realities of the compatriots' society.

By means of innovative insight, fresh style of work and seasoned and experienced methods of work, Chongryon organizations, affiliates and other organs at all levels should create a new spirit, a new feature of the movement of Koreans in Japan that is advancing full of vigour and vitality.

Whether a new heyday of the movement of Koreans in Japan is ushered in or not depends on the role of Chongryon officials.

Regarding the instructions of the great leaders as guidelines for their work and life, Chongryon officials should always go among the masses of the compatriots and become organizers and motivators who share sweets and bitters with them and enlist their spiritual strength. Maintaining the compatriots-first principle, they should display the spirit of boundless devotion and self-sacrifice for the national rights and happy future of their compatriots in Japan, in order that the latter regard Chongryon as their mother's embrace and sincerely trust, love and rely on it.

Chongryon is part of the socialist DPRK and the Koreans resident in Japan are brothers and sisters and family members of the motherland.

Our Party and the government of the Republic will take care, on its own responsibility, of the destiny and future of Chongryon and the Koreans resident in Japan that the great President and General bequeathed, and do their best for the development of the movement of Koreans in Japan.

I firmly believe that Chongryon officials and all other Korean compatriots in Japan will, in the future, too, throw in their lot with their socialist motherland invariably and fulfil their honourable responsibility and duty in their efforts to usher in a new heyday of the movement of Koreans in Japan.