Pyongyang, December 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a message of condolences from Renato Ravello, national chairman of the Central Committee of the Brazilian Communist Party, and its International Secretary Ricardo Alemao Abreu on Monday.

The message said:

It was with great sorrow that we heard the sad news that Comrade Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, passed away.

Comrade Kim Jong Il, an outstanding revolutionary, devoted his whole life to the building of a socialist economic power in reflection of the interests and desire of the popular masses in the DPRK holding aloft the banner of independence and anti-imperialist struggle.

He defended with dignity the socialist achievements of your country, steadily developing the Korean revolution started by Comrade Kim Il Sung.

A patriot and internationalist, Comrade Kim Jong Il promoted the reunification of Korea, global peace and the cause of solidarity among peoples.

We express bitter grief on behalf of the Central Committee of the Brazilian Communist Party and its members and pay homage to Comrade Kim Jong Il.

We are convinced that the people and the Workers' Party of Korea will overcome the present sorrow, unite close to stand up against the imperialists' threat and attack, protect the sovereignty of the Korean nation, advance the socialist construction and bring about steady innovations in the efforts to improve the people's life.