North Korea's official media reported Monday that one of the country's senior military generals has died.

The Korean Central News Agency said Vice Marshal Ri Jong San, who also was a member of North Korea's parliament , died of an unspecified long illness Saturday. He was 87 years old.

KCNA said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il expressed “deep condolences” about Ri's death.

It said Ri fought with North Korea's late founder, Kim Il Sung, against Japan's colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula in the early 20th century. He held various posts in the army and was awarded a series of honors and state commendations for his service.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency says Ri was born in 1922 in China, and that he was one of eight vice marshals in the North Korean army.