The two delegations, however, will not attend the funeral of Kim Jong-il, scheduled for Wednesday, and no government officials, politicians or other prominent figures were included in the groups.

Last week, the ROK government expressed its sympathy to the people of the DPRK following the death of Kim Jong-il on Dec 17, which was announced two days later.

However, it decided not to send an official delegation to the funeral. After Seoul's decision, the DPRK has denounced the ROK for not sending an official delegation and banning its people from visiting the DPRK to express their condolences.

Son takes over

Meanwhile, a leading DPRK newspaper said on Monday that Kim Jong-un had taken over leading the country the day after top leader Kim Jong-il died.

In an article entitled "Today and Tomorrow of Songun Korea," Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), said all the DPRK's work was being firmly carried out under the leadership of Kim Jong-un.

During the nine days of the national mourning, the country's politics had remained stable, which showed the support and trust of the army and people in the heir of their leader, the article said.

Under the wise leadership of Kim Jong-un, all servicepersons of the Korean People's Army have reaffirmed their desire to defend the WPK central committee with their lives, it said.

The whole WPK is running well under the leadership of Kim Jong-un and all party organs are fully supporting him, it said.

The DPRK's revolution and construction are advancing according to his intention, it added.

The DPRK media has repeatedly affirmed Kim Jong-un's top leadership in recent articles and commentaries since his father's death.