President Hu expresses condolences on Kim Jong Il's death (2)

President Hu and other senior leaders stepped close to the portrait of comrade Kim Jong Il, presented wreaths and silently grieved over the death of Kim Jong Il. Afterwards, they bowed to the portrait three times.

Pak Myong Ho, charge d'affaires of the DPRK Embassy, thanked President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders for coming to mourn the death of the DPRK's top leader.

Pak said comrade Kim Jong Il had made great efforts and contributions to the development of the friendship between China and the DPRK. Kim's sudden passing is the greatest loss of the DPRK party and revolution, and it is the greatest grief of the people and nation of the DPRK.

Under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, the people of the DPRK will turn grief into strength and courage, overcome current difficulties and strive to advance the socialist cause of the DPRK, Pak said.

Pak said the DPRK will work with the Chinese side to further strengthen friendship and expand the traditional China-DPRK friendly relationship of cooperation, he said

The CPC Central Committee, the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and the Central Military Commission also sent wreaths to the embassy.

Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee member and Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong, Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee member and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ling Jihua, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee head Wang Jiarui and Director of the President's Office Chen Shiju also accompanied President Hu to express their condolences at the embassy.

The late DPRK leader passed away from "great mental and physical strain" at 08:30 a.m. Dec. 17 (2330 GMT Friday), on a train during a field guidance tour, the DPRK's official KCNA news agency reported Monday.

China on Monday sent a message of condolence to the DPRK over the death of Kim.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also met with Pak Myong Ho in Beijing on Monday evening.