The statement said:

Kim Jong Il was the hero and benefactor of the nation.

He made tireless efforts for the happiness and well-being of the people, the building of a thriving socialist nation and Korea's reunification all his life.

He formulated Songun politics as a basic political mode under socialism on the basis of the Songun idea founded by President Kim Il Sung.

He turned the DPRK into a socialist fortress of the world.

He performed undying feats in the efforts to accomplish the cause of independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.

Thanks to his bold decision the north-south summits were held and the June 15 joint declaration, landmark of Korea's reunification, and October 4 declaration, a programme for implementing it, were adopted.

The era of the June 15 reunification and the idea of By Korean Nation Itself were provided thanks to his ardent patriotism.

He successfully put into practice the three charters for national reunification advanced by Kim Il Sung.

He regarded the idea of believing in people as in Heaven as his motto and worked heart and soul for improving the people's living standard till the last moments of his life.

Since his demise the Korean people have held him in high esteem as the eternal general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and eternal chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK.

He is always alive in the hearts of the Korean people.