Pyongyang, December 23 (KCNA) -- The Council of Christian Churches in south Korea clarified it would send a mourning group on demise of leader Kim Jong Il, according to Yonhap News of south Korea on Dec. 23.

The council stressed they would make their utmost to have the group sent, adding they express their heartfelt mourning over the demise of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission.

Members of the Kwangju City Assembly of south Korea Thursday issued a statement asserting it is their moral obligation to express condolences.

The statement said the present chief executive should express condolences and dispatch a government-level mourning group to the DPRK.