Kim Jong Il Continues Train Trip Across RussiaKim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is continuing his train trip across Russia and is to make a stop Sunday in Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Russian Republic of Buryatia, en route to Moscow, said the national Itar-Tass news agency.In Ulan-Ude, Kim Jong Il will be welcomed according to the local Buryatian tradition. He will be presented with a special ribbon for honorary guests, known as the "khadak", and a tray of national dairy products. Buryatian musicians will give a short concert for the DPRK delegation after which Kim will continue his train trip that started on July 26, Itar-Tass said. His first stop was at Hasan station, 300 kilometers off the Russian far eastern city of Vladivostok. There Kim met the Russian presidential envoy in the Far Eastern Federal District Konstantin Pulikovsky, who is now accompanying the guests to Moscow. From the Hasan station the 21-car train railed along the Hasan spur of the Trans-Siberian Railway and switched over to the main road near Ussuriisk. Kim will visit other Russian cities, including Omsk, en route to Moscow. During his stay in Omsk Kim will visit a transport machine plant which produces modern tanks and other military hardware. Kim Jong Il will arrive at Moscow's Yaroslavsky railway station on August 3. His talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled on August 4 in the Kremlin. A joint statement and other key documents are expected to be signed. From Moscow, Kim Jong Il will travel to St.Petersburg where he will visit local landmarks and industrial enterprises. The DPRK leader will start his return journey on August 8. |
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