Pyongyang, December 23 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, on Thursday received a message of condolences from Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.

In the message the prime minister said he could hardly repress sorrow at the sad news that leader Kim Jong Il passed away. His demise is, indeed, a great loss to the Korean people, he said.

On behalf of the people and government of Pakistan and on his own, the prime minister expressed deepest condolences to the people and government of the DPRK.