Solemn National Memorial Service for Kim Jong Il Held in Pyongyang

Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- A solemn national memorial service for Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, was held in Pyongyang Thursday.

Kim Il Sung Square was wrapped in a solemn atmosphere.

The dear respected Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and supreme leader of the WPK, state and army, appeared on the tribune of honor.

Present there were members of the National Funeral Committee, Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, officials of the party, state, armed forces and power bodies, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, men and officers of the KPA and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, officials in the fields of science, education, culture, arts, public health and media, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, bereaved families of revolutionary martyrs, mourners delegations from all provinces, people of all social standings, a mourners delegation of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters in China, those related to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle in China, families of Chinese related to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and their parties, mourners groups of overseas Koreans and other overseas Koreans, the chief of the Pyongyang Mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, diplomatic envoys of foreign countries, members of the military attaches corps and representatives of international organizations here and foreign guests.

All the participants in the memorial service observed a moment's silence in humblest reverence in memory of Kim Jong Il who worked heart and soul to accomplish the cause of building a thriving socialist nation till the last moments of his great life.

Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, made a memorial address.

He said:

Kim Jong Il, who devoted energies and tireless efforts to the accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche, national reunification and global independence, passed away so suddenly and so early to our regret. This is the greatest loss to the WPK and the revolution and the biggest loss to the nation which no one could have ever imagined.

All the people, men and women of all ages, who suffered the greatest loss of the nation, unbelievable, visited the bier of Kim Jong Il and the mourning stations in the whole mourning period to mourn his demise in humblest reverence.

Born as the son of guerrillas in Mt. Paektu, the holy mountain of the revolution, Kim Jong Il led the revolution and construction to victory with his brilliant wisdom, outstanding ideas and theories, extraordinary leadership ability and noble virtues for a long period, performing the undying revolutionary feats for the country, the nation, the times and history.

He made a new history of accomplishing the cause of perpetuating the memory of President Kim Il Sung with his noblest revolutionary moral obligation, making sure that the lofty revolutionary life and feats of the President were enshrined in the hearts of the Korean people and mankind to shed rays forever.

The revolutionary career of Kim Jong Il was a history of a heroic epic of the Songun brilliant commander born of Heaven and peerlessly great man who defended the sovereignty of the DPRK and put the dignity of the country on the highest level while resolutely shattering the moves of the imperialist allied forces for sanctions, pressure and moves for a war with arms.

Not putting off a jumper all his life, he made forced marches with his indefatigable efforts for field guidance to bring a happy life to the Korean people, considering a day as ten, nay a hundred days. We can never forget this dedication and efforts made by him.

He was, indeed, an outstanding statesman, peerlessly great man and a great sage of the revolution who steadily advanced the Korean revolution along the road of victory.

Prompted by his noble mission to carve out the destiny of the country and the nation and the future of the revolution, he gave a steady continuity to the tradition of the revolutionary cause of Juche, the Songun revolutionary cause which started on Mt. Paektu.

He perfectly solved the issue of the succession to the leadership, the hardcore in succeeding to the revolutionary cause. This was the noblest feat he performed for the destiny of the country and the eternal prosperity of all generations to come.

Standing at the helm of the Korean revolution is Kim Jong Un, the successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche.

Kim Jong Un is the supreme leader of our party and army and people as he fully personified the ideas and leadership, personality, virtues, grit and courage of Kim Jong Il.

We will turn sorrow into thousand-fold strength and courage and tide over the present difficulties and more dynamically advance along the road of Songun indicated by Kim Jong Il under the leadership of Kim Jong Un.

We, who made a pledge in bitter tears before the bier of Kim Jong Il, will accomplish the cause of the Songun revolutionary cause, the cause of building a thriving socialist nation, holding Kim Jong Un in high esteem as another General and supreme leader.

The noble and august name of Kim Jong Il and his image with a broad smile on his face will shine for all ages and he will always live in the hearts of the servicepersons and people of the DPRK.

Kim Ki Nam, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., the WPK, spoke at the memorial service on behalf of the WPK, Kim Jong Gak, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the WPK and first vice director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, on behalf of the KPA and Ri Yong Chol, first secretary of the C.C., the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, on behalf of the youth and students.

While recollecting with deep emotion the immortal revolutionary career of Kim Jong Il and his revolutionary feats, dedication and efforts for the country and people, the servicepersons and people of the DPRK are keenly feeling once again under what great leader we have lived and struggled, the speakers said.

They made firm pledges to accomplish the historic cause of national reunification, the lifelong desire of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, without fail and carry to completion the revolutionary cause of Juche which started on Mt. Paektu generation after generation under the leadership of Kim Jong Un.

Similar memorial services took place in all provinces, cities and counties that day. -0-