Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent a message of sympathy Tuesday to Chinese President Hu Jintao on the losses in the Sichuan earthquake.

"I send deep sympathy and consolation to you and, through you, to the Communist Party and the government of China and the people in the quake-hit area," the official news agency KCNA quoted the message as saying.

Kim wished the Chinese people overcome the aftermath of the disaster as early as possible in the message, said the KCNA.

A 7.8-magnitude quake rocked Wenchuan Country, 159 km northwest of Chengdu, capital city of China's southwestern Sichuan Province, at 14:28 (0628 GMT) on Monday, killing thousands of people in eight affected provinces.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)