Pyongyang, December 23 (KCNA) -- Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, president of the Council of State of Cuba and president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Thursday visited the DPRK embassy in Havana to mourn the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

He was accompanied by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

He observed a one-minute's silence after paying tribute to Kim Jong Il before his portrait.

He made the following entry in the mourners' book:

"I express deep condolences on the demise of Comrade Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, on behalf of the Communist Party of Cuba and the government and people of Cuba. His demise is an irrevocable loss to the Korean nation and the cause of socialism."

He courteously asked Kwon Sung Chol, DPRK ambassador to Cuba, to convey his condolences and greetings to Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK.

Saying that he visited the DPRK embassy to express condolences over the demise of Kim Jong Il, he continued:

I feel very sad that Comrade Kim Jong Il passed away. He demised too early.

Though he passed away, the Korean people are under Comrade Kim Jong Un, leader of the party, army and people, who successfully carries forward his cause.

I am sure that the Korean people will victoriously advance the cause of Comrade Kim Il Sung and Comrade Kim Jong Il under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un.

He asked the ambassador to convey to the leadership of the DPRK the will of the Cuban party, government and people to steadily boost the friendly relations with the party, government and people of the DPRK in all fields and his wish to meet Kim Jong Un.