The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) awarded its late leader Kim Jong Il with the Kim Il Sung Prize, the official newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said the award decree was made by the country's Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) on March 29, shortly before the centenary of the former leader Kim Il Sung's birthday on April 15.

According to the decree, Kim Jong Il laid an everlasting foundation for the DPRK's prosperity by steadily advancing the revolutionary cause of Juche, and awarding him with the prize reflected "the unanimous will and desire of all the service personnel and people."

The prize was also presented to 18 others who contributed to promoting the socialist culture in the Songun ("military first") era, which began in 1961.

The Kim Il Sung Prize was first awarded on his 60th birthday, and this is the fourth time Kim Jong Il received the prize. The previous three times were in 1973, 1978 and 1992.

On Monday, a national meeting took place in the capital marking the 19th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission. Mosaics portraying Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il were also erected on Jangdae Hill on the same day.