China on Monday sent condolences to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over the death of DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il.

"We are shocked to learn that general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA) comrade Kim Jong Il passed away and we hereby express our deep condolences on his demise and send sincere regards to the DPRK people," said the condolence message.

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

The condolence message, sent by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission to the DPRK's WPK Central Committee and its Central Military Commission, DPRK National Defense Commission, Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the DPRK Cabinet, called Kim Jong Il a great leader of the DPRK people and a close friend of the Chinese people.

The message said comrade Kim Jong Il had dedicated the whole of his life and rendered immortal service to the DPRK's socialist revolution and construction.

It noted that the late DPRK leader, a close friend of the Chinese people, had carried on and further developed the traditional friendship between China and DPRK. The Chinese government and people were deeply saddened by the demise of Kim Jong Il, who will be remembered forever by the Chinese people.

The Chinese side believed that the DPRK will remain united as one with the leadership of the WPK and comrade Kim Jong Un, and turn their sorrow into strength, continuously advance towards the goal of building a strong and prosperous socialist nation and achieving sustained peace on the Korean Peninsula.

China and the DPRK are close neighbors and stand together in good or bad times. The CPC and the Chinese government have always adhered to the policy of continuously consolidating and developing their traditional friendship with the DPRK, said the condolence message.

The message added that the traditional party-to-party, state-to-state and people-to-people friendship between the two countries will be carried on and further developed.