North Korea's Kim sends message on Kim Dae-jung's death

South Koreans wait their turn before burning incense in front of a portrait of the late former South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung for memorial services at Seoul Plaza in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday. South Korea lost its most fervent champion of peace and democracy with the death of former President Kim Dae-jung, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, for his efforts to foster reconciliation in the Korean peninsula. AP/ Lee Jin-man

North Korea says that leader Kim Jong Il has expressed condolences to the family members of late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

The official Korean Central News Agency quoted Wednesday Kim Jong Il as saying that "I express my deep condolences" to Kim Dae-jung's family members.

The former president died Tuesday about one month after being hospitalized due to pneumonia.

Kim Jong Il was quoted as saying that "the feats he performed to achieve national reconciliation and realize the desire for reunification will remain long with the nation."

The two Kims met in Pyongyang in 2000 in what was the first-ever summit between the leaders of the divided Koreas. The meeting prompted unprecedented reconciliation moves on the peninsula.