Pyongyang, December 22 (KCNA) -- Diplomatic envoys of China, Vietnam, Laos, India, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Venezuela and Serbia at the UN Office in Geneva and International Organizations paid condolatory visits to the DPRK permanent mission on Tuesday to mourn the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

They laid wreaths before the portrait of Kim Jong Il before paying silent tribute to him.

The Chinese permanent representative wrote in the mourners' book:

"Comrade Kim Jong Il was a close friend of the Chinese people.

The Chinese people cannot repress bitter sorrow over the demise of Comrade Kim Jong Il and express deep condolences on it. The party, government and people of China believe that the Korean people will overcome sorrow and display strength and courage and achieve success without fail in the building of a thriving socialist nation under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un and the Workers' Party of Korea true to the behests of Comrade Kim Jong Il".

The Zimbabwean representative said that the peoples of the two countries are comrades-in-arms fighting in the same trench for freedom and justice, so the Zimbabweans are sharing bitter grief with the Korean people. He went on: H.E. Kim Jong Il was, indeed, a great leader.