Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- Birds have hovered over the plaza of the April 25 House of Culture, crowded with people mourning the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

An Jong Hwa, a resident in Sosong District, told KCNA:

"When I was entering the plaza with a white flower in my hand on Friday morning, I saw tens of magpies clattering on the top of the front wall of the April 25 House of Culture where a large picture of leader Kim Jong Il was hung.

They were seen by thousands of mourners.

A flock of magpies flew here at 10:05 a.m. and their number reached more than 100 after 20 minutes."

Kim Un Hui, a guide of the April 25 House of Culture, said:

"Koreans say that the magpie clatter in the morning omens a welcome guest. Whenever magpies clattered in the morning, we looked forward to seeing leader Kim Jong Il in this house of culture. It seems the magpies came here to console us in grief and share it with us."

Cameramen took pictures and video of magpies hovering over the plaza.