Pyongyang, December 22 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a message of condolences from Choummaly Sayasone, general secretary of the C.C., Lao People's Revolutionary Party and president of Laos, on Tuesday.

The message said:

The demise of leader Kim Jong Il who devoted all his life to the development of the socialist cause is a great loss to the party, the government and the people of the fraternal DPRK.

It is also bitter grief of the Lao party, government and people as they lost their close comrade who made great contributions to the development of the traditional relations of friendship between the two peoples.

At this hour of bitter sorrow, I express deep condolences to the party, the government and the people of the fraternal DPRK.