Power trip for Kim on journey into Russia
Source: Agencies |
August 22, 2011, Monday
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NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Il toured a hydroelectric power plant yesterday as his train traveled through Russia's Far East on his first visit to the country in nine years.
Kim crossed into Russia on his armored train on Saturday at the invitation of President Dmitry Medvedev, with the two leaders expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the restart of nuclear disarmament talks and the construction of a pipeline that would stream Russian natural gas to North and South Korea.
The train stopped in the Russian border city of Khasan, where Kim was greeted by senior Russian officials, including Viktor Ishayev, presidential envoy to the Far East region of Russia.
Kim's train then continued its journey west along the Trans-Siberian Railway, stopping briefly early yesterday at the Khabarovsk railway station.
Kim was first seen later in the day when he left his train in the small Bureya railway station in the Amur province, where he was welcomed by officials and by two women in traditional red Russian costumes offering him bread and salt.
During the stop, he toured a hydroelectric power plant and its 139 meter dam on the Bureya River. A regional news agency, PortAmur, posted some of the only photographs of Kim's visit, during which he signed a guest book and watched a film about the plant completed in 2009.
Kim wore his trademark khaki jumpsuit, and in all but one of the photographs he is seen wearing dark sunglasses. He traded them for regular eyeglasses when presented with a framed picture as a gift.
Russia has proposed transmitting surplus electricity produced by the Amur plant to South Korea via North Korea, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
Kim traveled to the plant from the Bureya railway station in an armored Mercedes that was being transported on his train, Russian news agencies reported. Kim's train consists of 17 rail cars, plus four Russian cars that were added in Khasan to transport Ishayev, who is traveling with Kim, and Russian security guards and service personnel.
Kim told Russian officials he was pleased to see the achievements of the Russian people and thanked them for warmly welcoming him, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
Kim's visit comes amid signs that North Korea is increasing efforts to secure aid and restart stalled six-nation disarmament negotiations in return for aid and other concessions.
Russia said yesterday it was providing food assistance, including some 50,000 tons of wheat, to North Korea, which might face another food crisis this year due to heavy rains.
Russian state news channel Rossiya 24 reported that Medvedev will meet Kim in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, a Buddhist province near Lake Baikal. Kim would have to travel about 1,3,000 kilometers on the Trans-Siberian Railway along the borders with China and Mongolia to reach Ulan-Ude.
Kim last visited Russia in 2002, a four-day trip limited to the Far East. A year earlier, he made a 24-day train trek to Moscow and back.
Kim crossed into Russia on his armored train on Saturday at the invitation of President Dmitry Medvedev, with the two leaders expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the restart of nuclear disarmament talks and the construction of a pipeline that would stream Russian natural gas to North and South Korea.
The train stopped in the Russian border city of Khasan, where Kim was greeted by senior Russian officials, including Viktor Ishayev, presidential envoy to the Far East region of Russia.
Kim's train then continued its journey west along the Trans-Siberian Railway, stopping briefly early yesterday at the Khabarovsk railway station.
Kim was first seen later in the day when he left his train in the small Bureya railway station in the Amur province, where he was welcomed by officials and by two women in traditional red Russian costumes offering him bread and salt.
During the stop, he toured a hydroelectric power plant and its 139 meter dam on the Bureya River. A regional news agency, PortAmur, posted some of the only photographs of Kim's visit, during which he signed a guest book and watched a film about the plant completed in 2009.
Kim wore his trademark khaki jumpsuit, and in all but one of the photographs he is seen wearing dark sunglasses. He traded them for regular eyeglasses when presented with a framed picture as a gift.
Russia has proposed transmitting surplus electricity produced by the Amur plant to South Korea via North Korea, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
Kim traveled to the plant from the Bureya railway station in an armored Mercedes that was being transported on his train, Russian news agencies reported. Kim's train consists of 17 rail cars, plus four Russian cars that were added in Khasan to transport Ishayev, who is traveling with Kim, and Russian security guards and service personnel.
Kim told Russian officials he was pleased to see the achievements of the Russian people and thanked them for warmly welcoming him, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
Kim's visit comes amid signs that North Korea is increasing efforts to secure aid and restart stalled six-nation disarmament negotiations in return for aid and other concessions.
Russia said yesterday it was providing food assistance, including some 50,000 tons of wheat, to North Korea, which might face another food crisis this year due to heavy rains.
Russian state news channel Rossiya 24 reported that Medvedev will meet Kim in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, a Buddhist province near Lake Baikal. Kim would have to travel about 1,3,000 kilometers on the Trans-Siberian Railway along the borders with China and Mongolia to reach Ulan-Ude.
Kim last visited Russia in 2002, a four-day trip limited to the Far East. A year earlier, he made a 24-day train trek to Moscow and back.
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