Pyongyang, December 30 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Germany and the editorial department of its organ issued a joint statement on December 27 on the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

The demise of Kim Jong Il, great son of Korea who remained faithful to the scientific outlook on the world and devoted his whole life to the accomplishment of the cause of socialism, is a great loss to the Workers' Party of Korea and the Korean people and the whole progressive humankind, said the statement.

Kim Jong Il, the only successor to President Kim Il Sung, is an outstanding thinker and theoretician and great leader, it noted, adding:

By carrying forward the cause of Juche, the cause of Songun, he developed the DPRK in all fields and protected the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the world.

Under his guidance, the DPRK achieved great economic and social successes.

In this hard period we express profound condolences to the WPK and all the Korean people overcoming the pain resulting from the greatest loss.

We are confident that the Korean people will achieve successes in building a thriving socialist nation and defending their country and extend sincere militant solidarity to them.