Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived on a state visit to Pyongyang at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The two leaders meet to discuss the reliable development of relations between the two countries.
The North Korean leader said in opening remarks at talks with the Russian President that the relationship between Russia and the DPRK is entering its best years.
"Relations between our countries are entering a golden age that cannot be compared even to last century’s era of Korean-Soviet ties," Kim Jong Un said.
According to him, the Russian president’s visit is indicative of the strong ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. Kim described Putin's arrival of the as a milestone in relations between the DPRK and Russia.
"The situation globally is now changing fast as it becomes more challenging. Against this background, we are set to strengthen strategic interaction with Russia, with the Russian leadership as we go forward," Kim Jong Un said.
At first, the two leaders held talks as part of delegations.
The participants from the Russian side are: Minister Sergey Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide for International Affairs Yury Ushakov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Natural Resource Minister Alexander Kozlov, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, Transport Minister Roman Starovoit, head of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov, Deputy Defense Minister of Defense Alexey Krivoruchko, head of Roscosmos Yury Borisov and Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary to the DPRK Alexander Matsegora.
Later, Putin and Kim Jong Un continued their talks in a one-on-one format.
