(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-20 15:47

Pyongyang -- Some leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) visited the Chinese embassy to the country on Tuesday to mourn the victims of the massive earthquake that hit southwest China's Sichuan Province last week.

These leaders included Kim Yong Chun, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK; Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea; and Ro Tu Chol, vice premier of the DPRK.

On behalf of the National Defense Commission, the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and the cabinet, they also laid wreaths to the quake victims.

Dozens of other DPRK senior officials also came to the Chinese embassy to mourn the victims and placed wreaths.

DPRK leaders and officials have expressed their deep sympathy and condolences over the earthquake victims and hoped the Chinese people would defeat the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.

A major quake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12. The death toll from the quake rose to 34,073 nationwide as of midday Monday Beijing time, while 245,108 people were injured.