A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on May 25 to mark the 70th founding anniversary of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).

Present there were Kang Yun Sok, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Jon Sung Guk, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Ri Son Gwon, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Choe Hui Thae, chairman of the Pyongyang Municipal People's Committee, officials of the working people's organizations, ministries and national agencies, officials concerned, those related to Chongryon and working people in Pyongyang.

Also on hand were members of the group of Koreans in Japan for expressing thanks to the homeland on the 70th founding anniversary of Chongryon led by Jong Song Han, chairman of the Hokkaido Metropolitan Headquarters of Chongryon, who are on a visit to the socialist homeland, and overseas compatriots staying in the DPRK.

Kang Yun Sok made a report.

He said that, along with the call of Chongryon, which arouses unusual attachment, May 25 is recorded in the history of the country as a significant day that inspires the pride of being the Koreans as all other anniversaries of our state. The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan guided by the Juche idea was formed 70 years ago in the centre of capitalist Japan according to the desire and general will of all the Koreans in Japan, he noted.

In the past decades that were not smooth, the officials of Chongryon and other Koreans in Japan, true to the ideas and leadership of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, have waged a dynamic struggle for the victorious advance of the movement of Koreans in Japan and the peace of the Korean community in Japan and shared a destiny with the socialist homeland single-mindedly, despite the persistent suppression by and vicious moves of the hostile forces, he said, referring to the feats of the founder generation of Chongryon who created the traditions of loyalty, unity and patriotism in the alien land and bequeathed them to their descendants as fine spiritual heritage.

He said that the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, who has warmly embraced Koreans in Japan as the great Korean people living in a foreign country, has set it as the eternal national policy of the DPRK to attach importance to Chongryon and overseas compatriots since the first period of his revolutionary leadership and led the movement of Koreans in Japan to victory and glory, adding:

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a historic letter "Let Us Write a New Great Chapter in the History of the Movement of Koreans in Japan by Carrying Forward the Patriotic Spirit of the Founder Generation" to the officials of Chongryon and other Koreans in Japan on the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of Chongryon, thus giving them another strategy of sure victory for carrying forward the proud patriotic history of Chongryon for all ages.

He called on all the participants to dynamically advance, displaying the stamina of the indomitable Korean people for the beloved homeland, for the future of Chongryon which will grow stronger and prosper and for the peace and happiness of the harmonious, affluent and powerful Korean community in Japan under the leadership of Kim Jong Un.

Then, Jong Song Han, head of the group of Koreans in Japan for expressing thanks to the homeland on the 70th anniversary of Chongryon, made a speech.

He said that Chongryon has been able to firmly sustain its proud original features even in the environment of the alien land, thanks to the loving care of Kim Jong Un who always remembers Chongryon and Koreans in Japan, though busy ushering in a new gigantic era of comprehensive national rejuvenation, and gives strength and wisdom if necessary.

Saying that it is an extraordinary privilege and the highest honour to receive Kim Jong Un's important letter full of the idea of attaching importance to Chongryon and affection on the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of Chongryon, he stressed that Chongryon officials and other Koreans in Japan are hardening their pledge of faith to hold him in high esteem and stoutly follow the long road of patriotism.