Pyongyang, December 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, Tuesday received a message of condolences from Zillur Rahman, president of Bangladesh.

The message said:

I heard sad news with bitter grief and sorrow that Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, passed away all of a sudden.

In his sudden demise the DPRK and its people lost the great leader and we lost a dear friend.

At this moment of grief and sorrow, I express my deepest condolences to Your Excellency and the people of the DPRK.

We hope the people of the DPRK will overcome this great loss to the nation.

May he rest in peace.