Pyongyang, December 23 (KCNA) -- Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Valery E. Sukhinin and his embassy officials laid a wreath before the bier of leader Kim Jong Il on Friday.

Amid the playing of dirge, a wreath in the name of the Russian embassy was placed.

The participants paid a silent tribute in humble reverence to the bier of Kim Jong Il, who made immortal contribution to the development of the DPRK-Russia friendly relations and the human cause of independence, and went round the bier.

On the same day members of the EU mission for cooperation here laid a wreath before the bier.