In the statement the general secretary paid highest tribute to Kim Jong Il on the anniversary.

Kim Jong Il was a leader of the people as he regarded them as his teacher and dedicated his whole life to their happiness just the way President Kim Il Sung did when leading the revolution, the statement said, and went on:

The Korean people absolutely trusted him and faithfully upheld his leadership.

Such loyalty to him can hardly be understood by the politicians in the capitalist countries where the popular masses are subject to exploitation and oppression.

Kim Jong Il developed in depth the Juche idea founded by Kim Il Sung and pursued original Songun politics, making sure the people's army played a vanguard role in all fields of socialist construction.

The Korean people will always win victory, resolutely foiling the U.S. imperialist aggression moves, and Korean-style socialism will give off rays as the beacon of humankind to the whole world.