Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- All the Party members, working people and service personnel across the country all out in the grand advance of loyalty toward the historic 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, are full of strong yearnings for Chairman Kim Jong Il, peerless great man and patriot, on the occasion of the 9th anniversary of his demise.

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), chairman of the State Affairs Commission (SAC) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the greatest national memorial day.

The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the sacred temple of Juche, was wrapped in the sublime atmosphere by the deep reverence of the people for Kim Jong Il, great sage of the revolution.

Accompanying the Supreme Leader were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, first vice-chairman of the SAC of the DPRK and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), Ri Pyong Chol, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the WPK, Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK, Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice-chairman of the SAC of the DPRK and vice-chairman of the WPK Central Committee, and other party and government officials and senior officials of the armed forces organs.

A floral basket in the name of the Supreme Leader was laid before the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il.

Laid before the statues were floral baskets in the names of the WPK Central Committee, the SAC of the DPRK, the Presidium of the SPA of the DPRK and the Cabinet of the DPRK.

The Supreme Leader, together with other visitors, paid high tribute to the statues.

At the hall where Kim Jong Il lies in state, the Supreme Leader made a deep bow in deep reverence for him who dedicated his whole life to the country and people with warm love and devotion till the last moments of his revolutionary life and glorified the dignified, great and ever-victorious Party and the country of single-minded unity all over the world.

The Party and government officials and senior officials of the armed forces organs solemnly vowed to firmly defend and add luster to the idea and feats of Kim Jong Il and fulfill their heavy duty in the sacred struggle for a fresh victory of the socialist cause under the leadership of the Supreme Leader. -0-