Pyongyang, December 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a message of condolences from Vishwanath, secretary general of the International Kim Il Sung Prize Council and director-general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, on Monday.

The message said:

Today when we heard the news that the great leader HE Kim Jong Il passed away is the darkest day in this century for us.

He was the man who came down to the earth to serve humankind.

Such a great man is born only once in centuries.

Today we feel ourselves like a child who lost parents.

May his soul rest in peace.

We hope that Your Excellency will give all of us strength to overcome the pain at the irretrievable loss.

Warm tears are now falling down in our hearts like billions of people in the world and the entire Korean nation.

Now the destiny of the Korean nation is in your hand.

We are firmly convinced that you will prove yourself to be the great son of the great father.