The Rodong Sinmun, a leading newspaper of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), hailed the recent successful visit to China by top leader Kim Jong Il in an editorial published Sunday.

The editorial said that the people of the DPRK are "very glad and excited" about the visit. It is a "meaningful opportunity" to strengthen the friendship between the two parties and the leaders of the two countries.

The article also indicated that the DPRK will make efforts to further strengthen the traditional DPRK-China friendship.

Both countries shared the view that peace, stability and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula are in the common interests of the two countries and other Northeastern Asian nations, the editorial said.

The two sides will make joint efforts to achieve the objective of denuclearizing the Peninsula on the basis of the Sept. 19 Joint Statement, it added.

The editorial also said that the people of the DPRK sincerely wish the Chinese people still greater achievements in their socialist construction and the cause for national reunification.

Kim Jong Il made an unofficial visit to China from May 3 to 7. He has visited China for five times since 2000.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2010)