Pyongyang, December 21 (KCNA) -- Xinhua news of China and ITAR-TASS of Russia on Monday reported about the Korean people mourning the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

Xinhua news said:

Streets of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, were engulfed in bitter grief after the news of demise of Kim Jong Il, supreme leader of the DPRK, was reported on Monday.

That day the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, the National Defence Commission, the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the Cabinet of the DPRK announced a "Notice to all party members, servicepersons and people."

A darkly dressed woman announcer of the DPRK Central TV conveyed in tears and trill the news that Kim Jong Il passed away.

The notice said that "the sudden death of Kim Jong Il, the great leader of our party and people, is the greatest loss to our party and revolution and the bitterest grief to our people and all other Koreans."

The Central TV is airing the news of his demise, documentaries on his revolutionary activities, etc.

Pyongyangites coming and going on streets did not keep back their tears, sharing the bitter grief with each other.

Many citizens and students in Pyongyang gathered in front of the statue of President Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill to express their deep condolences over the demise of Kim Jong Il.

Also seen before the statue of the President at Kim Il Sung University, the highest university in the DPRK, were citizens and students lamenting over his demise while expressing condolences.

Flags were flown at half-mast at institutions and schools in mourning for his demise.

The number of vehicles and passersby in streets was far less than at ordinary time.

Traffic controllers on streets were standing guard with tears in their eyes.

ITAR-TASS reported under the title "The Korean people expressing condolences over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il":

The voice of an announcer of the DPRK Central TV informing the news of his demise stopped several times with sobbing.

The Central TV televised people wailing before portraits of their respected leader and mosaics portraying him at different parts of the country.

A woman lamented with words "General! Please, come back to us. It is unbelievable that you left us".

Tens of thousands of citizens in the capital city gathered at the historic sites associated with the leader's exploits to pay tribute to him.

Seen at the statues of President Kim Il Sung, founder of the DPRK, were a large number of people grieving with tears in their eyes.

Such voices as "General, don't leave us, please" and "General will always be with us" were heard from among those people one after another.

Servicepersons solemnly pledged to more dynamically advance along the road of revolution indicated by the leader by overcoming sorrow and displaying strength and courage.

Radio and TV are airing in turn dirge, march and patriotic songs and poems praising the undying feats of Kim Jong Il.

The demise of the leader is the greatest loss to the people of the DPRK.

KCNA called upon the people to stand the trial by overcoming sorrow and displaying strength and courage.

It stressed: The Korean people suffered heavy loss but Kim Jong Un, the great successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche and outstanding leader of our party, army and people, is standing in the van of the Korean revolution. No force on earth can block the revolutionary advance of our party, army and people going under his wise leadership.