Czech communist leader sends condolences to North Korea

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North Korean regime’s international mouthpiece, reported that the leader of the Czech and Moravian Communist Party (KSČM), Vojtěch Filip, sent a message of condolence on December 19 over the death of leader Kim Jong-il, who died last Saturday. Filip confirmed to Czech server novinky.cz  on Friday that he had sent the message but did not provide a copy of the text.

According to the KCNA, Filip’s message was addressed to Kim Jong-un, Jong-il’s son and heir who currently holds the title of vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Filip’s message as published by KCNA reads:

Respected Comrade,

In bitter heartfelt sorrow, I received the sad news that Kim Jong Il, the great leader of your country, passed away.

We highly respected Kim Jong Il who devoted himself to bringing happiness to the Korean people, ensuring the security of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] and achieving peaceful reunification of Korea.

The Communist Party of Czech and Moravia firmly believes that the Workers' Party of Korea will overcome the present bitter grief and continuously lead to victory the courageous Korean people's struggle for defending socialism in your beautiful country.

Please accept my comradely salute.

The KSČM won 11.27 percent of the vote in the 2010 elections to the lower house of the Czech parliament compared to 12.81 percent in 2006 and has 26 seats in the 200-seat lower house.

With the exception of Russia, the only other message of condolence from a European communist party leader reported by the KCNA was from Vladimir Voronin, chairman of the Moldovan Communist Party and the country’s former president.

KCNA also cited a message from the Russian leadership: “We cannot repress our sorrow over the sudden demise of Comrade Kim Jong Il. We share this bitter grief with the Korean people,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly wrote.