NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD TO MARK 2ND ANNIVERSARY OF DEMISE OF KIM JONG IL

Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- A national memorial service was held solemnly in Pyongyang on Tuesday, the second anniversary of demise of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

Present there was Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA).

Attending it were leading officials of the party, state and army, the chairperson of a friendly party, officials of the party, armed forces and power organs, public organizations, ministries and national institutions, service personnel of the KPA and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, officials of organs, enterprises, factories and co-op farms in Pyongyang, bereaved families of revolutionary martyrs, persons of merit and other people.

Also present there were overseas Koreans delegations including the delegation of Koreans in Japan and the delegation of the General Association of Koreans in China, overseas Koreans, those related to revolutionary activities of Kim Jong Il, the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, foreign diplomatic envoys, representatives of international organizations and members of the military attaches corps here and other foreigners.

All the participants observed a moment's silence in humblest reverence for Kim Jong Il.

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

The life of Kim Jong Il was the one of the great thinker, statesman and brilliant commander who performed unprecedented great feats in the history of the Korean nation and the world history of politics, the speaker said, and went on:

Kim Jong Il comprehensively systematized and developed in depth the Juche idea and the Songun idea with his extraordinary wisdom and energetic ideological and theoretical activities, built the party, state and army of the DPRK into the glorious party, state and army of President Kim Il Sung and achieved the most solid single-minded unity under the uplifted banner of modeling the whole society on Kimilsungism.

He, cherishing Songun as the steadfast revolutionary creed all his life, built the People's Army into the matchless revolutionary army and put the DPRK on the position of the world's military power, thereby providing a sure guarantee for the eternal prosperity of the nation.

He led all the fellow countrymen along the road of independent reunification and great national unity, opening up the June 15 era of reunification in the idea of "By our nation itself" and making immortal contributions to defending the peace in Asia and the rest of the world and accomplishing the human cause of independence.

He was the peerless patriot, great revolutionary and benevolent father who took warm care of the country and its people with ardent loving care and warm feelings all his life.

He, cherishing in his early years the high aim of glorifying Korea, led the Korean revolution to victory with his iron will and tireless energies for more than half a century from the first days of leading the revolution, while weathering all ordeals which no other human being, revolutionary and leader have ever undergone.

The tremendous national power was provided and the Korean people could lead a dignified and happy life thanks to the tireless efforts and self-sacrificing dedication of Kim Jong Il who gave ceaseless field guidance despite severe snowstorm and midsummer heat, always going in simple jumper.

He led the revolution and construction along the road of one victory after another with his gifted wisdom and through his veteran and tested leadership, ushering in the glorious era of national prosperity and laying an eternal cornerstone for accomplishing the Juche cause. His immortal revolutionary life and feats will always go down in the history of the country.

KPA Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, made a speech to vow loyalty on behalf of the KPA, Jang Chol, president of the State Academy of Sciences, on behalf of the scientists and Hyon Sang Ju, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, on behalf of the working class.

They said:

Over the past two years the whole country was swept by the strong tide of the best wishes for immortality of Kim Jong Il as the army and people of the DPRK have consolidated the blood ties with him.

The army and people, rallied close around Marshal Kim Jong Un, waged a sacred struggle arms in arms and shoulder to shoulder with him to translate the idea and desire of Kim Jong Il into realities. They have thus made a leap forward in the revolution and construction, giving fullest play to Kim Jong Il's patriotism.

Kim Jong Il provided matchless military power and the unbreakable unity between the army and people, working heart and soul with patriotic will under the uplifted banner of Songun all his life, and thus put the dignity of the country and people on the highest level in the history of the nation. These revolutionary exploits will shed brilliant rays as an eternal treasure of the sun's Korea.

They renewed their firm determination to provide a firm guarantee for the revolutionary cause of Kim Jong Il with arms and work fresh miracles and set new records startling the era in every surging worksite for the building of an economic power and highly civilized socialist nation under the ever-victorious leadership of Kim Jong Un.

Memorial services took place in all provinces, cities (districts) and counties and at industrial complexes on Tuesday on the same occasion.

KIM JONG UN VISITS KUMSUSAN PALACE OF SUN

Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, together with Ri Sol Ju, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Tuesday, the 2nd anniversary of demise of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

He was accompanied by Kim Yong Nam, Pak Pong Ju, Choe Ryong Hae, Ri Yong Gil, Jang Jong Nam, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Pak To Chun, Kim Yong Chun, Yang Hyong Sop, Kang Sok Ju, Kim Won Hong and other members of the leadership organ of the Central Committee of the WPK in Pyongyang City, officials of the Central Committee of the WPK, leading officers of armed forces organs and officials of ministries and national institutions.

Kim Jong Un entered the hall where statues of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are standing.

Seen standing beside the statues were flags of the WPK and the DPRK and army colors. The guard of honor of the Ground, Naval, Air and Anti-air Forces of the KPA and the Worker-Peasant Red Guards lined up beside them.

The chief of the guard of honor made a salute to the statues.

A floral basket in the name of Kim Jong Un was placed before the statues.

Also laid before the statues was a floral basket in the joint name of the Central Committee of the WPK, the Central Military Commission of the WPK, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and its Cabinet.

Kim Jong Un, together with other visitors, paid high tribute to the statues.

Kim Jong Un entered the hall where Kim Jong Il lies in state.

He, together with other visitors, paid homage to Kim Jong Il in the humblest reverence for him.

He looked round the hall where the orders Kim Jong Il received are on display, the mourning hall and the halls which house a car, electric car, boat and train coach used by Kim Jong Il.