Pyongyang, December 26 (KCNA) -- Words fail to describe the grief over the sudden demise of Kim Jong Il, the great leader of the Korean people and close friend of the Chinese people, said Zhang Jinquan, son of Zhang Weihua, a Chinese anti-Japanese revolutionary martyr, when interviewed by KCNA Monday.

He went on:

When I heard the sad news that Comrade Kim Jong Il passed away, over TV and radio in China, I was all at sea how to tide over the days to come.

I could hardly believe his demise as I watched the TV showing him conducting energetic activities by visiting China twice this year.

All my family members wept bitterly.

We rushed here, finding no way to keep back the grief over his demise.

It is an obligation for our family to mourn his demise.

General Kim Jong Il was the tender-hearted father of our family.

Whenever I received the loving care shown by him, I wished to call him father as I felt as if I were seeing President Kim Il Sung.

The whole life of respected Kim Jong Il was the noblest one as he glorified the tradition of the Sino-DPRK friendship and took deep care of our family with brotherly affection.

His demise is not only a great loss to the Korean nation but bitterest grief of our family.

I am confident that the revolutionary history of General Kim Jong Il will last forever thanks to respected Comrade Kim Jong Un.