SEOUL, June 18 Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hugged at the meeting, the North Korean leader joyfully greeted the Russian president at the very ramp, broadcast footage shows.
As a correspondent reported earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on a two-day state visit to the DPRK, the Russian leader’s plane landed at Pyongyang airport.
Kim Jong-un, who initially waited at a distance on the red carpet in front of the plane, soon moved closer to the ramp to meet Putin. As soon as the Russian president stepped off the ramp, they joyfully embraced and exchanged handshakes and greetings with smiles.
The program of Putin's visit to the DPRK is intense, the main part of it will take place on Wednesday; on June 19, negotiations are planned in various formats, including in an expanded format, as well as informal communication between the leaders.
The visit program also includes a gala concert in honor of Putin's visit, a state reception, and the laying of a wreath at the Liberation Monument, dedicated to the soldiers of the Red Army who liberated Korea during the Second World War.
The Russian President is accompanied on his trip by a representative delegation. The negotiations will be attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt, and there will also be representatives of large domestic companies, including the head of Roscosmos Yuri Borisov and Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov.
The last time Putin was in the DPRK was back in 2000, the chairman of North Korea was then Kim Jong Il, the father of the current leader.