Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- 30 odd personages of different circles of Italy and a regional body visited the DPRK embassy in Rome on Dec. 20 to express condolences over demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

Among them were Roberto Gabriele, general secretary of the Movement for Peace and Socialism of Italy, Osvaldo Pesce, general secretary of the C.C., Unified Communist Party of Italy, and Matteo Carbonelli, secretary general of the European Society for the Study of the Juche Idea.

They laid bouquets before the portrait of Kim Jong Il and observed a moment's silence.

They said in unison that the demise of Kim Jong Il is the great loss not only to the Korean people but also to the world progressives.

They hoped that the Korean people would overcome sorrow as early as possible and achieve great success in socialist construction under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.

They made entries in the condolence book.