Pyongyang, October 24 (KCNA) -- Poet O Yong Jae, winner of Kim Il Sung Prize and the title of Labor Hero, died of the thyroid cancer at the age of 75 on Sunday.

Hailing from the southern half of Korea, O joined the Korean People's Army and bravely fought in sacred battles during the Fatherland Liberation War against the U.S. imperialists.

He has worked in the field of literature and arts for years with boundless loyalty to the party and the leader and ardent love for the socialist country.

He wrote words of songs "Old Home Covered with Snow", "Smile with Love" and "Family of General", a lyric poem "Sun of All People", a poem "Declaration of Avenger" and many other literary works of high ideological and artistic value, making a great contribution to the development of poetry in the DPRK and educating the people in the revolutionary idea.

He was awarded Kim Il Sung Prize, the title of Labor Hero and many other state commendations for his feats performed in the development of the Juche-based literature.

His obituary was released by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on Sunday.

Though O died, the feats he performed for the country and the people will always be remembered, it said.