Pyongyang, December 23 (KCNA) -- Junichiro Koizumi, former prime minister of Japan, sent a consolatory message to the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on Friday over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

I express my heartfelt regret at the news of the sudden demise of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the National Defence Commission, he said in the message.

The message hoped that the relations between Japan and the DPRK would be normalized through comprehensive settlement of all problems.