Detailed report about Kim Jong Il's visit and stay in Russia
Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) --Chairman Kim Jong Il of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea paid an official visit to the Russian Federation from August 4 to 5, 2001 at the invitation of Russian President V.V. Putin and paid an unofficial visit to St. Petersburg on August 6 and 7 and stayed in Russia from July 26 to August 18.
Russian President V.V. Putin accorded cordial hospitality to Kim Jong Il with all sincerity and Kim Jong Il was warmly welcomed by Russian people everywhere he went in Russia.
Kim Jong Il had two meetings and talks with Russian President V.V. Putin in an amicable atmosphere as well as friendly conversations with plenipotentiaries of the Russian President, governors of regions and many other leading officials of national and local institutions.
At meetings and talks between the top leaders of the two countries that took place in a friendly and open-hearted atmosphere they informed each other of their achievements and experience and had an exhaustive exchange of views on the matter of consolidating and developing the DPRK-Russia friendship and issues of mutual concern including the international situation and reached a consensus of views on all the matters discussed.
The leaders of the two countries unanimously recognized that boosting the traditional DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations with deep-rooted history conforms with the basic interests of the two peoples in the new century and makes an important contribution to peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world.
It was stressed at the meetings and the talks that developing the DPRK-Russia friendship with a long history onto a new stage is the unanimous desire of the two peoples. They also expressed the will to expand and develop the friendly relations for peace and stability in northeast Asia and the rest of the world, prosperity of the two countries and equally and mutually beneficial cooperation in the spirit of the DPRK-Russia joint declaration and the DPRK-Russia treaty of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation signed in Pyongyang last year.
Very pleased to see the long-awaited visit to Russia by leader Kim Jong Il in the first year of the new century, President V.V. Putin stressed that the visit was of weighty significance in further promoting mutual understanding and trust, friendship and cooperation between the two countries and accelerating the development of the DPRK-Russia friendly relations in the new century.
Support and solidarity were expressed at the meetings and talks for the two peoples' efforts for social progress and development.
The leaders of the two countries agreed on the specific orientation and steps to further develop the bilateral cooperation in politics, the economy, military affairs, science and technology, culture and other fields. In particular, they had an in-depth discussion on the pressing issues of cooperation such as the matter of stepping up in full scale the project of linking the railways between Korea and Russia, which is aimed to put into practice the plan for building railways linking the north and the south of the Korean peninsula, Russia and Europe, and it produced good results.
They had a wide-range exchange of views on a series of international matters and expressed their resolution to make every possible contribution to establishing a fair new world order for global peace and stability by the joint efforts of the two sides in the new century.
Putin arranged an unofficial meeting with Kim Jong Il at the end of the latter's stay in Moscow and accorded special hospitality to him.
Kim Jong Il deepened close relationship with Putin, through this historic meeting, and further strengthened the DPRK-Russia friendly ties.
Kim Jong Il paid an unofficial visit to St. Petersburg, the heroic city, on August 6 and 7 after concluding his official visit to the Russian Federation.
He was courteously greeted by V.V. Cherkesov, plenipotentiary of the president to the northwestern federal district, V.A. Yakoblev, mayor of St. Petersburg, V.S. Bobrishev, commander of the Leningrad military district, G.I. Tkachev, deputy mayor and chairman of the committee for foreign relations, and other leading officials of the national and city institutions.
He met and had a friendly talk with V.A. Yakoblev and other leading officials of the city and was invited to the reception given by the mayor.
While staying in St. Petersburg he laid a wreath at the monument "mother-homeland" of the Piskaryov cemetery where 490,000 defenders of Leningrad are entombed and visited Ermitazh Museum and historic sites such as the Petropablovsk fortress and various units including the Leningrad metal works and the plant named after Kirov.
After going sightseeing of the city of St. Petersburg with a long history and culture and a tradition of struggle he noted with high appreciation that cultural heritages associated with the wisdom and talents of the Russian people are preserved and glorified well.
He enjoyed the ballet drama "Silfida" at the Maryinsky Theatre.
He toured various parts of Russia on his way for an official visit to the Russian Federation and an unofficial visit to St. Petersburg.
He was accompanied by K.B. Pulikovsky, plenipotentiary of the president to the far eastern federal district, and leading officials of the administration of the president and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in the entire period of travelling Russia.
He visited the city of Omsk, one of the major industrial cities of Russia, from July 31 to August 1 on his way to Moscow.
He was greeted at railway station by L.V. Drachevski, plenipotentiary of the president to the Siberian federal district, I. K. Polezhaev, administrator of Omsk region, V.A. Varnavski, chairman of the legislative council of the region, and other senior officials of national and local institutions.
Accompanied by the regional administrator-led senior officials of the region and the city, he visited the Omsk transport machine plant which produces tanks and modern tractors, the agricultural complex "Omsk Bekon" and the Omsk State Science Library named after Pushkin. He was present at a reception given by the regional administrator and enjoyed a song and dance performance given by artistes in the region.
On his way home after wrapping up the Russia visit, he stayed in Novosibirsk city on August 11.
He was warmly greeted with particular friendship by the citizens who were looking back on the unforgettable day in may 1984 when they welcomed President Kim Il Sung.
He was greeted by L.V. Drachevski, plenipotentiary of the president to the Siberian federal district, V.A. Tolokonski, administrator of the Novosibirsk region, V.V. Leonov, chairman of the regional Duma, V.F. Gorozetski, mayor of Novosibirsk, and other senior officials of national and local institutions.
He, conducted by leading officials of national and local institutions, visited the Siberian branch of the academy of sciences of Russia, the Aero production complex named after Chkalov and Siberian state railway university in Novosibirsk city.
After going round the complex which produced and sent many fighter planes to the front and thus greatly contributed to winning the victory in the great patriotic war and is now designing and manufacturing various types of latest aircraft, he saw a flight demonstration, met with its participants and congratulated them upon their success.
That evening, V. A. Tolokonski hosted a grand banquet in honor of Kim Jong Il.
President Putin sent a congratulatory message to him staying in the Russian Federation on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of August 15 liberation.
Kim Jong Il stayed in Khabarovsk city, the seat of the far eastern federal district, on Aug. 17.
Senior officials and citizens of the city of Khabarovsk and its area paid high respects to him and warmly welcomed him who was on a return trip after making an immortal contribution to strengthening the DPRK-Russia friendship.
He laid a wreath before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Slava Square before visiting the folk museum, veterans' house, a children's food combine and a department store.
He had a cordial talk with senior officials of the area cruising in the River Amur and was invited to a reception.
Former Soviet marshal D. T. Yazov, V.V. Kruchkov:
Former chairman of the U.S.S.R. committee of State Security: S. Z. Umalatova, chairwoman of the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia: V. V. Karpov, former first secretary of the central committee of the Writers' Union of the U.S.S.R.: and other personages called on him to welcome him and sincerely wished him good health during his stay in Russia.
His visit to Russia and stay there were successfully wound up thanks to Putin's deep concern and cordial hospitality and the warm welcome of the Russian people.
Kim Jong Il expressed his satisfaction at the results of the visit and sent a message of heartfelt thanks to Putin upon crossing the border.
Kim Jong Il's historic Russia visit will be brilliantly recorded in the annals of the DPRK-Russia friendship as a landmark event which brought about a new turning point in consolidating and developing the traditional friendship.
Congratulatory letters to Kim Jong Il
Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- Ri In Mo, the incarnation of faith and will, O Ik Je, vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, and former unconverted long-term prisoners on August 18 separately sent congratulatory letters to leader Kim Jong Il on his return home after successful conclusion of an official visit to Russia.
The letters said that they were moved to tears of joy, relief and congratulations when they heard news that he conducted energetic external activities in good health and adopted and published the historic Moscow declaration.
His visit to Russia marked a great historic event as his great army-first politics unprecedented in history evoked a storm of response in the world, they noted, adding that shouldering upon himself the destiny of the nation and humankind, he opened a new phase in developing the bilateral relations through the recent visit.
Pointing out that thanks to his indefatigable efforts the red flag of socialism of our own style associated with the whole life of President Kim Il Sung has come to flutter forever in the world, they stressed:
Kim Jong Il is, indeed, a great leader of the global anti-imperialist cause of independence and a bright sun of the 21st century as he enjoys high international prestige.
Thanks to his greatness the building of powerful nation, national reunification and global independence are sure to come true.
15th World Festival of Youth and Students closes
Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- The 15th World Festival of Youth and Students which began in El Djazair on August 8 closed on August 16.
The DPRK youth and students delegation to the festival positively took part in the festival activities according to the program.
At the Korean national club the delegation held friendly meetings with youth and students from various countries, exchanged views with them, gave art performances and hosted a DPRK book and photo exhibition and other colorful functions.
At the forum of international solidarity for supporting the struggle of the Korean people and youth to reunify the country independently and peacefully and the anti-imperialist tribunal which took place on the sidelines of the festival the delegation disclosed the monstrous atrocities committed by the U.S. imperialists against the Korean people and Japan's dastardly distortion of history and expressed the will of the Korean youth to achieve the country's reunification without fail.
Korean youth and students participated in the marathon race for solidarity held according to the sports program of the festival.
"Evening longing for the general," the meeting of the members of the DPRK youth and students delegation, was held during the festival.
Japan urged to meet demand of international community
Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- Representatives of non-governmental organizations made speeches on August 14 when item 6 of the agenda (the issue of slavery of modern version) was under discussion at the 53rd session of the UN sub-commission on human rights held in Geneva.
Recalling that recently the Japanese government refused to allow the entry into Japan of a DPRK delegation to participate in meetings to hear testimonies related to the forcible drafting by the Japanese imperialists and that the Japanese prime minister visited the "Yasukuni Shrine", the representative of the liberation organization branded the visit as a grave challenge to the world people aspiring after peace.
He strongly urged the UN sub-commission on human rights to exert influence on the Japanese government to own its responsibility for the past war crimes.
The representative of the Asian council of women's rights said that the sexual slavery for the imperial Japanese army, the crimes related to the "comfort women for the army" during the second world war, were a form of the most heinous assault on women. She urged the Japanese government to meet the demand of the international community.
The special reporter on assaults on women appealed to the sub-commission to urge the Japanese government to admit the legal responsibility for the crimes related to sexual slavery committed during and before world war ii, abolish the examination system allowing the amendment of history textbooks, and their revision and withdraw the approval of the controversial history textbooks as required by its surrounding countries.
The representative of the organization for international reconciliation and the organization for Japanese reconciliation called upon the sub-commission to adopt a resolution on terminating the organized rape and sexual slavery during armed clashes and search for the possibility of forming an international fact-finding and reconciliation committee.
DPRK ambassador to Nepal appointed
Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- Jon Song Myong was appointed as DPRK ambassador e.p. to Nepal, according to a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.
South Korean Buddhists visit office of Korean Buddhist Federation
Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- Delegates of the South Korean Buddhists including Myong Jin, president of the headquarters of the promotion for national community of Buddhist Jogye order of South Korea, today visited the office of the central committee of the Korean Buddhist Federation.
They were greeted by officials including most venerable Pak Thae Hwa, chairman of the c.c., the Korean Buddhist Federation.
It was stressed that the Buddhists in the north and the south of Korea should positively contribute to achieving national reunification in the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration.
Kim Yong Nam meets WFP executive director
Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met with Catherine Bertini, executive director of the World Food Programme, and her party on a visit to Korea at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
Present there were Choe Su Hon, vice-minister of foreign affairs, David Morton, UN resident coordinator and WFP representative in the DPRK, and Richard W. Corsino, WFP deputy representative.
At the meeting the executive director expressed the will to further improve cooperative relations between the WFP and the DPRK in the future.
Gifts to Kim Jong Il from WFP and its executive director
Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- Leader Kim Jong Il was presented with gifts from the World Food Programme and its executive director.
The gifts were handed to Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today by Catherine Bertini, executive director of the WFP on a visit to the DPRK.