China's official Xinhua News Agency says Chinese President Hu Jintao has paid his respects for late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il at a memorial altar at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing.

Hu visited the embassy around 10 a.m. Tuesday local time and offered his condolences for roughly ten minutes.

Nearby roads around the embassy were blocked for an hour around this time. The president is believed to have been accompanied by other Chinese leaders as a dozen vehicles arrived at the embassy.

On Monday, Beijing sent a telegram offering its condolences to North Korea over the death of its leader. China also expressed support for the North Korean regime led by Kim Jong-il's son Jong-un.