PYONGYANG, North Korea, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- North Korea decreed an official mourning period for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, calling him its "close friend," Pyongyang's official media said Friday.
North Koreans will mourn the death of Arafat during the Nov. 15-17 condolence period, the Korean Central News Agency said. Key state organizations will fly flags at half-mast for Arafat, who died early Thursday in a Paris hospital aged 75.
"A close friend of the Korean people, President Yasser Arafat visited the DPRK (North Korea) six times from October 1981 to June 1993," it said, adding he was awarded the title of "republic hero" of North Korea during his first visit.
North Korea's No. 2 leader and titular head of state Kim Yong-nam sent a message of condolences to the Legislative Council of the Palestinian National Authority.
"He (Arafat) was a close friend of the Korean people," the message reportedly said.
In the past, North Korea has declared mourning periods when leaders of the former Soviet bloc, China and some non-aligned nations died.
