He in the message extended warm congratulations and compatriotic greetings to all the officials of Chongryon including the chairman and other compatriots in Japan at a time when 2017 recorded with great events to be specially recorded in the history of the country is sent off and hopeful New Year 2018 is greeted in.

Last year Chongryon recorded the whole year with patriotic days and months in ardent reverence for President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il despite the vicious suppression by the Japanese reactionaries, and made great progress in the drive for opening up a new heyday in the movement of Koreans in Japan, the message said.

Kim Jong Un highly appreciated the noble loyalty and patriotic devotion made by Chongryon officials and all the Koreans in Japan who have invariably and vigorously fought for the victory of the Juche cause, the patriotic cause of Chongryon, braving manifold difficulties and trials in the alien land.

New Year 2018 is a significant year marking the 70th birthday of the DPRK and will be a year of a grand advance in which a decisive breakthrough is to be made in the drive for developing the movement of Koreans in Japan onto a higher stage with the 24th Plenary Meeting of Chongryon as an occasion, the message said, adding:

I express firm belief that Chongryon and all Koreans in Japan would strikingly demonstrate once again the true nature of Chongryon, a dignified overseas Koreans' organization of the DPRK, and build a new landmark in the sacred course for the strengthening and development of the movement of Koreans in Japan this significant year.

He said that he would cherish Chongryon, associated with the noble patriotism and compatriotism of the peerlessly great persons of Mt Paektu, as a valuable treasure of Juche Korea, and do his best for its strengthening and happy life of Koreans in Japan.

He wished Chairman Ho Jong Man and all other Chongryon officials and compatriots in Japan good health, and hoped that the families of all compatriots in Japan would be filled with greater happiness and laughter in the hopeful New Year.