Moscow: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Russia’s Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on Wednesday, ahead of his first summit with President Vladimir Putin amid stalled nuclear talks with the US. “I arrived in Russia bearing the warm feelings of our people, and as I already said, I hope this visit will be successful and useful,” Kim told Russian channel Rossiya 24. Russian state television showed Kim, in a black homburg and overcoat, stepping out of his green private train at the city railway station in the afternoon where he was greeted with military honours.
He was accorded a red carpet welcome by Minister for the Development of Russian Far East Alexander Kozlov and Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov. Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora and Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemiako were also part of the welcome delegation. Upon leaving the railway station, a military orchestra played the North Korean and Russian anthems. Before getting into a limousine, Kim and the Russian officials inspected the guard of honour. The North Korean delegation then departed to the Vladivostok’s island of Russki, where the Far Eastern Federal University campus is located and where Kim will meet President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Efe said.
Kim arrived from Khasan where he stopped at 10.30am after crossing the Russian-N Korean border. The Khasan to Vladivostok journey took nine hours. At the Khasan station, he was presented with flowers and bread and salt, a Russian tradition for welcoming guests, local lawmaker Natalia Karpova said. “I hope during the talks with Prez Putin, I will discuss in a concrete manner issues relating to the settlement of situation on the Korean peninsula and to the development of our bilateral relations,” he said. —Agencies
