Pyongyang, December 26 (KCNA) -- Ambassador Valery Sukhinin and staff members of the Russian embassy here held a ritual at the Jongbaek Church on Monday in deep mourning over leader Kim Jong Il's demise.

Present there on invitation were Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Jang Jae On, chairman of the Religious Believers Council of Korea, and officials concerned.

The participants paid respects to Kim Jong Il who made immortal contributions to the development of the DPRK-Russia friendly relations and the human cause of independence.

The Russian ambassador said at the ritual that Kim Jong Il showed deep care for the development of bilateral friendly ties, adding that the Russian people express their heartfelt sympathy to the Korean people.