The army, ruling party and people should be prepared to act as “human shields” for the son and successor of Kim Jong-il, the message released by state media said.
His son, Kim Jong-un, took over after his death and has in recent days quickly consolidated his power in the country.
“Glorify this year 2012 as a year of proud victory, a year when an era of prosperity is unfolding,” the message released by the official Korean Central News Agency said.
“The whole Party, the entire army and all the people should possess a firm conviction that they will become human bulwarks and human shields in defending Kim Jong-un unto death.”
The message also said US troops should be removed from South Korea, describing them as the main obstacle to peace.
A Japanese newspaper has reported that Kim Jong-il’s eldest son, who lives in Macau, secretly visited Pyongyang to pay his last respects.
He has lived abroad for several years after reportedly falling out of favour with his father for trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001 to visit Tokyo Disneyland.