Pyongyang, December 20 (KCNA) -- From noon on Dec. 19 when the sad news of leader Kim Jong Il's demise was reported to the noon next day a total of more than five million citizens of Pyongyang visited the statues and portraits of the peerlessly great persons and mosaics depicting them and other places to mourn his demise.

An endless stream of people from all walks of life visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung standing on Mansu Hill, Ryongnam Hill, Jangdaejae Hill and other places to express condolences over his demise.

Those engaged in the construction of Mansudae area, officials of ministries and national institutions and students of Kim Il Sung University and Kumsong Secondary School No. 1 rushed there in bitter grief.

The number of mourners thronging to Mansu Hill increased as time went by. Around 3 p.m. they packed not only the ground before the statue of the President but the road stretching to it from the construction site.

The mourners' number reached 450 000 at dawn on Tuesday and it went beyond 800 000 at noon.

They were grieving over his demise in bitter sorrow. Among them were those who could not stand to their feet.

Countless women, young and old, were in their mourning clothes with white ribbons on their heads.