Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Pyongyang: North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in Russia for his first ever meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Arriving in a special train, Kim pulled into Vladivostok’s train station, where he was met by Alexander Kozlov, Russia’s Minister of Development of the Far East and the Arctic, as well as Vice Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, Governor of Maritime Territory Oleg Kozhemyako and Russia’s Ambassador to the DPRK, Alexander Matsegora.
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A statement from North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said: “At 18:00 local time, a private train with Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un aboard pulled in at the railway station. There was a ceremony for welcoming the visit to the Russian Federation by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. He passed Russia's border railway station in Khasan on Wednesday morning on his way to the Russian Federation. He was kindly greeted at Khasan Railway Station by Alexandr Kozlov, minister of Development of the Far East and Arctic of Russia, and other senior officials who came to the railway station from the capital and local areas to greet him.
The KCNA added: “He was also greeted at the railway station by Kim Hyong Jun, DPRK ambassador to the Russian Federation, and Jo Sok Chol, DPRK consul general in Vladivostok. After getting off the train, he exchanged greetings with the senior officials of the capital and local areas who came to greet him. He was presented with a bread and salt and then floral greetings by Russian women according to a Russian custom. Then, he was guided into the VIP room at the railway station.”
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A special guard of honour was accorded to Kim Jong Un, featuring a march-past with servicemen from the three branches of Russia’s armed forces. According to Russian state news agency TASS, Kim hoped his meetings with Putin would help de-escalate the tensions in the Korean Peninsula.
"I hope that our meeting, Mr. President, would be useful for deepening and developing the traditionally friendly and deep-rooted relations between North Korea and Russia," he said. "The situation on the Korean Peninsula is of great interest to the entire international community. I hope that our talks will become an important event to assess the situation together and exchange opinions."
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"I hope we will have a substantial exchange of opinions," the North Korean leader went on. "We will," Putin replied. “I’m convinced that your today’s visit to Russia will contribute to the development of bilateral relations, helps to gain a better understanding of possible ways to settle the situation on the Korean Peninsula, to see what can be done together, what Russia can do to support the processes that are now under way.”
The Russian President added: "Undoubtedly, we welcome your efforts to develop the inter-Korean dialogue and to normalise relations between North Korea and the United States. Of course, a lot remains to be done in bilateral relations, to develop trade and economic ties and humanitarian contacts.”
Kim Jong Un was accompanied by Kim Phyong Hae and O Su Yong, members of the Political Bureau and vice-chairmen of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Ri Yong Ho, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, WPK and foreign minister, General Ri Yong Gil, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, WPK and chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, Choe Son Hui, member of the State Affairs Commission (SAC) of the DPRK and first vice foreign minister, and members of the Central Committee, WPK and the SAC.
He was seen off by Choe Ryong Hae and Pak Pong Ju, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, WPK, and other leading officials of the Party, government and armed forces organs.
