The participants laid bouquets before the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Chongjin City and paid tribute to them.

Present there were the captain and crewmen of the Sierra Leone-flagged ship YUAN-7.

The speakers said Kim Jong Il made unremitting efforts till the last moments of his life to bolster up the defence capabilities of the DPRK.

He, regarding the military affairs as the most important state affairs for a long period, turned the DPRK into a full-fledged nuclear weapons state and satellite manufacturer and launcher, they said.

Thanks to his political ability, brilliant military wisdom, matchless grit and leadership art, the DPRK could rank itself among the world military powers. The great feats he performed before the era and history will be immortal, they added.

A letter to Marshal Kim Jong Un was adopted at the meeting.