The statement said Kim Jong Il in his lifetime made tireless efforts for victorious advance of the socialist cause, prosperity and reunification of the country and building of a new peaceful society.

He built the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) into a powerful party representing the people's interests, said the statement.

It added that he also developed the Korean People's Army into the main force of the revolution and construction and the invincible armed forces boundlessly loyal to the Party's cause.

It said that late in the last century, he pursued the original Songun politics to lead the revolution to a victory and safeguard the sovereignty of the country.

Referring to the 8th Congress of the WPK that had been successfully held, it said the congress was a political event which marked a watershed in the militant course for strengthening the great Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Party and the overall development of the cause of the Korean-style socialism.

The congress was brilliantly recorded in the history of the WPK as the congress of struggle and advance which gave a strong impetus to the historic march for opening up the period of a new great upsurge and change for the Korean revolution, said the statement.

The world progressives extend full support to the Korean people who turned out in implementing the decisions of the 8th Party Congress under the wise leadership of His Excellency Kim Jong Un, the statement concluded.