BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao went to the embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Beijing Tuesday morning to express condolences on the demise of top DPRK leader Kim Jong-il.

The late DPRK leader passed away from a great mental and physical strain at 08:30 on December17 (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 condolences to the DPRK over the death of Kim.

"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 condolence message is 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.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Pak Myong Ho, charge d'affaires of DPRK Embassy in Beijing on Monday evening.

Yang said comrade Kim Jong-il was a great party and state leader of the DPRK. He said that the Chinese government and people were deeply saddened by the demise of "close friend" Kim Jong-il, who would be remembered forever by the Chinese people.

Earlier on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu also expressed "deep condolences" on the death of Kim.