South Koreans Mourn over Demise of Kim Jong Il

South Koreans Mourn over Demise of Kim Jong Il The All-People's Council for National Reconciliation and Cooperation in south Korea made public a statement on Dec. 20 to show its mourning for the demise of leader Kim Jong Il. We express our deep condolences over the sudden demise of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, the statement said. Extending sympathy to the compatriots of the north in bitter grief, the Council hoped that the reconciliation and cooperation between the south and the north would continue. S. Korean NGOs Insist Visiting DPRK over Kim Jong Il's Demise South Korean NGOs called for forming a mourners group and visiting the northern half of Korea to express deep condolences over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il. On December 21, they held a meeting where they discussed forming the group with the People's Council for National Reconciliation and Cooperation as a core. They included the "Movement of Koreans for Helping Each Other" and the Citizen's Solidarity for Democratic Society. The NGOs' condolences should be realized in any case, they stressed. Imprisoned Reverend of S. Korea Mourns Demise of Kim Jong Il Rev. Han Sang Ryol, a reunification champion of south Korea, on December 21 expressed deep condolences over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il. Han has been detained at Seoul Prison on charges of the violation of the "National Security Law" for the mere reason that he visited the northern half of Korea last year to mark the 10th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration. I express deep condolences over the sudden demise of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, he said, adding he is sure that the day of reunification will surely come. S. Korean People Mourn Demise of Kim Jong Il Upon hearing the sad news that leader Kim Jong Il passed away all of a sudden, more south Koreans from all walks of life are expressing condolences on his demise. The headquarters of the movement for withdrawal of the U.S. troops made public a statement on December 20 expressing deep condolences on so sudden demise of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission. He adopted the June 15 joint declaration, a landmark for national reunification, making a big contribution to the history of the national reunification movement, the statement noted. The labor headquarters of the South Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration, the south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Trade Unions released a joint commentary and message of condolences on the same day. They noted that they miss Kim Jong Il more than ever before as he passed away at a time when a great advance was being made in the nationwide movement for independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity in the spirit of "By our nation itself". The chairman of the south Korean Federation of Peasants Association said on the same day that there should be urgent efforts for all Koreans to share the present sorrow. He urged the "government" to express condolences together with NGOs in an effort to provide an occasion of inter-Korean reconciliation. The Solidarity for Progress in its statement on December 19 said that it was expressing deep condolences on the unexpected sad news. The efforts of the nation should be increased in the future to achieve south-north reconciliation and unity and peace and prosperity on the basis of the joint declarations, it stressed. The South Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration in its statement on December 19 urged the "government" to officially express condolences on the demise of NDC Chairman Kim Jong Il without fail. Foundation of S. Korea Issues Condolatory Statement The Roh Moo Hyun Foundation of south Korea on December 20 made public a condolatory statement over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il. In the statement the foundation expressed deep condolences on the sudden demise of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission. We are cherishing the historic moment Chairman Kim Jong Il adopted the October 4 declaration for the development of inter-Korean relations, peace and prosperity, it said. It is his intention to achieve peace and co-prosperity through implementation of the October 4 declaration, the organization said, hoping that the south and the north would jointly realize them. Homepages Opened in S. Korea to Mourn Kim Jong Il's Demise Internet homepages for mourning the demise of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, were opened in south Korea on Dec. 19 when the sad news of his demise was reported, according to south Korean CBS. Posted on those homepages in succession are articles carrying deep regret of south Koreans at his sudden demise. Memorial Service for Kim Jong Il Proposed in S. Korea The South Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's Reunification convened a meeting of its Presidium on December 20 upon hearing the sad news that leader Kim Jong Il passed away all of a sudden. At the meeting the organization set a mourning period ending on Dec. 29 and proposed to the different circles in south Korea to hold a memorial service for Kim Jong Il, chairman of the National Defense Commission. It also called for forming a non-governmental mourners' group involving personages of political parties and public organizations who support the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration. The organization urged the "government" to immediately express condolences and dispatch an official mourners' group and unconditionally allow the non-governmental mourners' group to visit the DPRK. S. Korean Religious Organization Issues Condolatory Address The south Korean Buddhist Jogye Order published a condolatory address on December 21 over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il. The address expressed deep condolences over the demise of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the National Defense Commission. It extended profound consolation to the compatriots in the north overwhelmed with the great sorrow over the great loss. It called for promoting dialogue and exchange between the south and the north.