Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- Hadi Gafori, chairman of the Al Hadi Islam Propaganda Organization of Iran who is chairman of the Iranian national preparatory committee for commemorating the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung and Fardi, secretary general and members of the International Taekwon-Do Association of Iran paid condolatory visits to the DPRK embassy in Tehran on Dec. 20 and 21 over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

They laid wreaths before the portrait of Kim Jong Il and expressed condolences over his demise.

The chairman said that Kim Jong Il's demise was a great loss not only to the Korean people but also to the Iranians and the world progressives.

He was a close friend of peoples of Iran and all other countries standing in the anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. front, the secretary general stressed.

Meanwhile, diplomatic envoys of Thailand, Sudan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan to Iran paid condolatory visits to the DPRK embassy on Wednesday.