NKorean leader's visit to Russia passing in friendly atmosphere

MOSCOW, August 23 (Itar-Tass) - The North Korean leader's visit to
Russia is passing in a friendly atmosphere; bilateral relations are marked
these days also with other important events in various spheres.
Kim Jong-Il's train arrived this morning in Ulan-Ude, the capital of
the Buryatia Republic, wherefrom the motorcade of the North Korean leader
departed for Lake Baikal, village of Turka. The fact-finding programme at
the sea-lake is kept secret, as all other events, connected with Kim's
visit.
However, the protocol of visits by high guests to the Baikal shore in
Buryatia is the same, as a rule. It includes the inspection of the
construction site of the "Baikal Haven" tourist zone, one of whose centers
is Turka village where an advanced port will be built; a congress hall and
facilities for accommodation of tourists.
It is unknown what sights of interest will be shown to Kim. According
to information from reliable sources, Kim may also visit a closed garrison
("Pine-Tree Forest") near Ulan-Ude. In the past, it headquartered the
staff of the Soviet Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
The North Korean leader started his Russian visit on Saturday. The
programme of his stay in Russia includes visits to several regions of the
Russian Far Eastern and Siberian Federal districts. The Kremlin press
service reported that "a meeting between the North Korean leader and
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will be the key event of the visit".
Kim visited the Bureya hydropower station on Sunday where he came in
an armored Mercedes from the Novobureisk railway station. Right after his
arrival at the station, he viewed a documentary on the power plant, which
was specially translated into Korean. Following the film show, Kim
inspected the turbine house of the station and saw a discharge of water
over the dam.
The KCNA news agency noted that replying to greetings of Russians, Kim
noted that "he is glad of a chance to see with his own eyes achievements
of industrious and capable Russian people".
The present visit "opened a new glamorous chapter in relations of
friendship between the DPRK and the Russian Federation, which are
consistently developing from one generation to another", noted the North
Korean government, as quoted by the KCNA news agency. North Korean deputy
premier Jo Pyong Ju called Kim's visit to Russia historic. General of the
Korean People's Army Kim U Ho said that the news of the Supreme
Commander's unofficial visit to Russia filled the hearts of the
servicepersons with boundless longing for him.

Other important events happen simultaneously with Russian-North Korean
events these days. For instance the commander of the Russian Eastern
Military District, Admiral Konstantin Sidenko started a visit on Monday to
North Korea. "The main aim is to consolidate friendly relations between
the armed forces of the two countries," said the Russian military leader.
Russia participates in the First International Trade Fair (opened on
Monday) in the special economic zone Rason (Rajin-Sonbong) which the North
Korean government plans to turn into a leading trading centre in all North
East Asia. A meeting of the Russian-Korean intergovernmental commission on
trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation will take place in
Pyongyang late this week.
Besides, 270 Russian children had a chance to have rest at an
international pioneer camp on the coast of the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in
the Gangwon-do province.
Small doubt that the North Korean leader's visit to Russia draws
attention in other countries. However, for instance, the US refuses to
comment it. Head of the State Department press service Victoria Nuland
replied to an appropriate question the following way: she recommended to
turn to the Russian government with this question on the results of the
visit. She added that the US constantly holds talks with Russians on North
Korea; and this will continue.