Kim Jong-un returns to Pyongyang amid grand reception

Seoul, Sep 20 (EFE).- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received a great reception upon his return to Pyongyang after his 10-day trip to Russia in which he met with President Vladimir Putin to strengthen military ties among others, according to Wednesday state news reports.

“The Pyongyang train station became a veritable sea of flowers that conveyed the burning passion of people across the country, who were eagerly awaiting the day when (Kim) would return home safely from his overseas tour,” state news agency KCNA said, along with photos of the reception, which included honor guards from the three army corps.

“The leaders of the Party, the government and the army warmly congratulated him on his return home in good health after carrying out immortal external revolutionary activities that will forever be recorded in the history of the development of friendship between (North Korea) and Russia,” the text added.

KCNA said the trip and the rapprochement with Moscow “reflect the unanimous desire of all the people and the men and officers of the Korean People’s Army (KPA).”

Among senior officials who waited on the platform for the arrival of Kim’s armored train were three members of the Politburo Presidium: Kim Tok-hun, Jo Yong-won and Choe Ryong-hae.

Two other members of the Presidium, Marshals Ri Pyong-chol and Pak Jong-chol, were among the delegation that accompanied Kim to Russia, in addition to the heads of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Choe Son-hui and Kang Sun-nam, or two figures from the single North Korean party linked to the manufacture of munitions and the space program.

The North Korean leader’s trip has lasted 10 days including travel, which has been very long due to the slowness of the armored train that Kim uses to move, and has marked his longest visit abroad since he came to power.

During the trip, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur region, and although details have not been made public, Putin said after the meeting that there is room for military cooperation between the two countries. EFE

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