Kim Jong-il reportedly wanted to construct an Eastern Orthodox church in North Korea after a trip to the Russian Far East in 2002.

[2] Kim had visited the St. Innocent of Irkutsk Church in Khabarovsk on 22 August and admired its architecture and Russian Orthodox rites.

[1] All four were freshly baptized Christians who had formerly worked for the North Korean intelligence service.

[3] The church was dedicated on 13 August 2006 in the presence of Russian religious and political leaders.

[9] The church is presided over by Rector Feodor Kim (Kim Hoe-il) and Deacon John Ra (Ra Gwan-chol), graduates of the theological seminary in Moscow.