"His Excellency Yasser Arafat was a prominent politician who led the Palestinian revolution for nearly 40 years and an outstanding leader who made a distinguished contribution to the noble cause of establishing an independent state of Palestine and winning back the legitimate right of the Palestinian people," said Kim Yong-nam in a message to Rawhi Fatouh, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Kim, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, said he believed that the Palestinian people will overcome the grief and come out in unity in their struggle for an independent state.

"The noble exploits performed by him in the Palestinian cause will always be remembered by the Palestinians and progressive humankind," Kim said.

Kim called Arafat a close friend of the Korean people. According to the KCNA, Arafat visited the DPRK six times between October 1981 and June 1993. He was awarded "Hero of the DPRK" during his first trip to the DPRK.

The KCNA also reported that flags will be flown at half mast atsome DPRK institutions between Monday and Wednesday to mourn Arafat's death.

Arafat died early Thursday morning at a French military hospital at the age of 75.