Guy Dupre, secretary general of the International Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea, said this in a statement on June 9.

Kim Jong Il successfully carried forward the idea and cause of President Kim Il Sung to victoriously advance the Korean revolution and the human cause of independence, the secretary general noted, and went on:

He, ardent patriot, dedicated himself to building a socialist power with all its domains developed, a country with its people's living standard steadily improved and its economic potential remaining strong thanks to a high level of modernization.

He built the Workers' Party of Korea, the staff of the revolution, into the strong party representing the interests of the Korean people and the dignified party steering the revolution and construction to victory.

He also developed the Korean People's Army into the invincible revolutionary armed forces capable of foiling all provocations and aggression moves of the imperialists at one blow and a driving force of the revolution and construction.

He worked heart and soul to put an end to the tragedy of national division forced by outsiders, ushering in the June 15 era of reunification.