Putin and Kim Jong-un start one-on-one discussion in Pyongyang

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS. North Korea’s Kim Jong-un welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang with a spectacular ceremony on Wednesday, marking the Russian leader’s first official visit to the country since 2000, RT reports.

The two leaders began the official ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang at around noon on Wednesday. A military orchestra played the national anthems of the two nations, with artillery guns firing a welcoming salvo. The square, which can hold more than 100,000 people, was packed with local residents, who came to greet the Russian president. 

Ahead of President Putin’s visit, the streets of the North Korean capital were decorated with countless Russian flags, welcoming banners both in Korean and Russian, and portraits of the Russian head of state. 

After official talks between the Russian and North Korean delegations, and the heads of state kicked off a one-on-one discussion during which more “sensitive and important” matters will be discussed, according to the Russian presidential foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.

After North Korea the Russian president will visit Vietnam.