North Korea thanks Russia for fire trucks granted gratis

PYONGYANG, April 28 (Itar-Tass) - The North Korean deputy minister of people’s security thanked Russia for 50 modern fire trucks handed over to that country. A ceremony on the occasion of this event was held on the square at the exhibition of three revolutions in North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, on Monday. The deputy minister thanked Russian production association specialised in special fire-fighting machinery that delivered these fire trucks within the deadlines set beforehand and trained North Korean fire crews. “We will always remember about a sincere aid of Russian people,” the deputy security minister noted. He wished to the government and people of Russia new successes “in creation of a strong country.” In his words, a manifestation of this strength “became successful holding of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi which promoted stronger friendship between people of different countries.” Along with fire trucks within a humanitarian mission Russia has delivered equipment and tools which will permit to provide its qualitative maintenance in North Korea, Russian Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Stepanov said at the ceremony. He said with hope that delivered machinery “will allow ensuring security of Korean people at higher level.” Deputy Prime Minister Ro Tu Chol, officials of the Foreign Ministry, Pyongyang people’s committee and many journalists attended the ceremony from North Korea. The Russian delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister and presidential plenipotentiary representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev that arrived in North Korea on a three-day visit also attended the ceremony. Along with talks with North Korean state officials at congress palace Mansude the Russian delegation is expected to visit the St. Trinity Church in the south of the North Korean capital. Construction of a Christian Orthodox church in Pyongyang began on personal instruction from Kim Jong Il after a visit at an Russian Orthodox church during a trip to Russia’s Far East in 2002. He was supervising personally church construction. The church was built exclusively by North Korean workers practically from North Korean state budget for two years. Russian Orthodox Church and Russian patrons donated bells, icons and church plates. Learn more on itar-tass.com