General Secretary Kim Jong Il on May 22 sent a greeting message to the 18th Congress for the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun).

His message started by delivering congratulations to the tri-annual Congress and its participants, who represented 700,000 Korean compatriots in Japan.

He emphasized the importance of the 18th Congress as it was held at a time when a new turn has been effected in the revolutionary cause of Juche, and the Korean people are striving hard to mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK.

The Chongryun officials and other compatriots in Japan should bring about a fresh turn in the movement for national reunification and all other patriotic work by maintaining the Juche character, the message said.

With a great pride of being overseas citizens of the socialist homeland founded and developed by the late President Kim Il Sung, he stressed, the need for cherishing national character in Chongryun's movement by thoroughly implementing the Juche-based policy of patriotic movement.

Chongryun, it noted, should actively fight to preserve the national character of the Korean compatriots in Japan and defend their national rights to democracy. The message also pointed out the need to strengthen friendship and solidarity with the Japanese and other people of the world so that the Korean people's just cause can enjoy world-wide support.