Atanas Ivanov, honorary chairman of the Bulgarian Communists Union, said this in a statement on June 12 on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of his start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

He went on:

The most important significance of Kim Jong Il's exploit is that he firmly defended socialism from the reckless offensive of the imperialists and renegades of socialism.

He formulated the revolutionary idea of President Kim Il Sung as the integral system of ideology, theory and method of Juche, enriching the treasure house of the Juche idea and making a great contribution to developing the idea and theory of world socialism.

He also achieved the harmonious whole of the Party and the people and turned socialist Korea into the invincible power that no hostile forces dare provoke by pursuing the unique Songun politics.

He devoted himself to the struggle for the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.