Pyongyang: Grand Ceremony Held to Welcome President of Russian Federation

Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has greeted a goodwill mission of the fraternal Russian people as the highest honoured guests of the state and is filled with a welcoming atmosphere.

Large portraits of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin were displayed on the fronts of high-rise apartment buildings and skyscrapers draped with the national flags of the DPRK and the Russian Federation in the capital city. Seen standing in different parts of the city were posters and signboards bearing such slogans and catchwords as "Welcome to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin", "Welcome to Putin", "Long Live Invincible DPRK-Russia Friendship and Unity!" and "DPRK-Russia Friendship Is Everlasting!"

Both sides of streets extending scores of ris, decorated with beautiful flowerbeds, flags and buntings of five colours, were crowded with a large number of people from all walks of life who came out to greet the dearest friend from a friendly neighboring country.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin's presidential limousine, which left the Kumsusan State Guest House, escorted by motorcycles, was given a rapturous welcome by Pyongyang citizens along the route.

The citizens enthusiastically waved the national flags of the two countries and bouquets, chanting welcoming slogans with warm feelings about the militant kinship between the DPRK and Russia which are boldly opening up the new horizon of friendly and cooperative relations through full mutual support and selfless encouragement for the joint cause despite geographical differences.

Along Ryomyong Street and Kaeson Street and on the roadside at the foot of Moran Hill where the Liberation Tower symbolic of the militant friendship between the peoples of the DPRK and Russia stands, citizens expressed their deep respect and trust in Putin.

A ceremony for welcoming the president of the Russian Federation took place at Kim Il Sung Square on June 19.

The national flags of the DPRK and the Russian Federation were fluttering and the guard of honor of the Korean People's Army (KPA), the honorary cavalry and the central military band of the Ministry of National Defence lined up at the square richly decorated for that day's grand ceremony.

Present there were Kim Tok Hun, vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, Choe Ryong Hae, first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the DPRK, secretaries of the Central Committee of the WPK and other senior officials of the Party and the government.

Also present at the ceremony were Kang Sun Nam, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, and other commanding officers of the ministry.

Pyongyangites, service personnel of the KPA, youth and students and children stood with national flags of the two countries and bouquets in their hands.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, came to the venue for the ceremony.

At 12:00 President Putin's limousine arrived at Kim Il Sung Square.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un warmly greeted Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin amid the playing of welcome music.

Kim Jong Un introduced the leading officials of the Party, government and military to Putin.

Kim Jong Un exchanged greetings with Foreign Minister of Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Mantrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Nobak, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration and President's Press Secretary Dmitri Peskov, Aide to the President of Russia for Foreign Policy Yuri Ushakov, Minister of Defense Andrei Beloussov, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology and Chairman of the Russian Side of the Russia-DPRK Inter-Governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology Alexandr Kozlov, Minister of Health Mikhail Murashuko, Minister of Transport Roman Starovoyt and other entourage members of the Russian side.

A ceremony of welcoming the Russian president began.

When Kim Jong Un took the platform together with Putin, a 21-gun salute was boomed amid the playing of the national anthems of the Russian Federation and the DPRK.

Putin received a salute from the head of the guard of honor of the KPA.

Guided by Kim Jong Un, Putin reviewed the guard of honor of the KPA.

There took place a march-past of the guard of honor of the KPA.

At the end of the ceremony, a great number of balloons rose up into the sky amid rousing cheers, beautifully decorating the bright sky of June.

Fighter jets of the KPA air force flew past the sky above the square, giving off tricolor haze symbolic of the national flag of the Russian Federation.

Putin expressed his heartfelt thanks to Kim Jong Un for paying deep attention to his Pyongyang visit and lavishing cordial hospitality on him.

Kim Jong Un and Putin took the open limousine amid the waves of flowers and dancing at the square.

The masses cheered enthusiastically, looking up to the top leaders who have more firmly cemented the durable and genuine ties of friendship between the DPRK and Russia with a long history and tradition and confidently led them to the road of comprehensive and strategic development as required by the new era.

The top leaders of the DPRK and Russia warmly acknowledged the cheering crowds.

The ceremony of welcoming Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin's visit to the DPRK at time-honored Kim Il Sung Square was recorded as a historic event that clearly demonstrated the friendship, unity and genuine relations of comrade-in-arms between the peoples of the two countries.