Pyongyang, December 22 (KCNA) -- Ri Hui Se, permanent representative of the European Regional Committee under the Overseas Side Committee for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration, Wednesday made public a statement of mourning over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

We can hardly repress our shock and sorrow upon hearing the sad news that Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, passed away all of a sudden, the statement said, adding:

After assuming the heavy responsibility for the state affairs by succeeding to the cause of President Kim Il Sung, the chairman shared woe and weal with the people and dedicated his life to preventing aggression from foreign forces and building a thriving country.

He provided the inter-Korean summit meeting for the first time in the history of national division and adopted the June 15 joint declaration for national reconciliation and reunification, thus opening up a vista for building a unified state.

The European Regional Committee will always remember the feats performed by Kim Jong Il for peace and reunification of the nation and continue the movement for the country's reunification.

We are firmly convinced that thanks to the solid foundations laid by him, the DPRK will speed up the vigorous advance toward the eminence of a great prosperous and powerful nation, rallied as one in mind around Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.