Leader Kim Jong Il Greets President Kim Dae Jung

Leader Kim Jong Il Greets President Kim Dae Jung

PYONGYANG, June 13 (KCNA)

President Kim Dae Jung and his entourage arrived here today by air to visit Pyongyang at his own request for historic Pyongyang meeting and inter-Korean summit.

At Pyongyang Airport, the great leader Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, warmly greeted President Kim Dae Jung.

The airport and streets of the capital city of Pyongyang were wrapped in an atmosphere of warm welcome.

Citizens from all walks of life were present at the airport to give welcome to a delegation of the south side.

Leader Kim Jong Il went there.

Also present there were Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly; Jo Myong Rok, First Vice-Chairman of the NDC of the DPRK and Director of the KPA General Political Department; Choe Thae Bok, Chairman of the SPA; Kim Kuk Thae and Kim Yong Sun, Secretaries of the WPK Central Committee; Kim Yun Hyok, Secretary of the SPA Presidium; Kim Yong Dae, Chairman of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party, and other leading officials of the party and power bodies, public organizations, ministries and national institutions.

The plane carrying the south side’s delegation landed at the airport.

Kim Jong Il shook hands and exchanged greetings with Kim Dae Jung.

Also arriving today were his suite members including Unification Minister Pak Jae Gyu, Minister of Finance and Economy Ri Hon Jae, Minister of Culture and Tourism Pak Ji Won and Special Aide to the President Rim Tong Won and journalists.

Kim Jong Il, together with Kim Dae Jung, reviewed a guard of honor of the KPA three services.

Children gave bouquets to Kim Dae Jung.

Then the honor guard marched past.

Kim Dae Jung made public a written arrival statement at the airport.

Escorted by motorcycles, the limousine carrying Kim Jong Il and Kim Dae Jung headed for downtown Pyongyang.

Over 600,000 citizens from all walks of life warmly welcomed Kim Dae Jung and his entourage with compatriotic feelings along the route extending tens of kilometers.

On the route, women workers presented bunches of flowers to Kim Dae Jung and his wife.

Kim Jong Il acknowledged the warm cheers of the crowd.

Kim Dae Jung and his entourage waved to Pyongyangites, deeply touched by their enthusiastic welcome.

Kim Jong Il went together with Kim Dae Jung to the state guest house where he had a conversation and posed for a picture with Kim Dae Jung and his suite members.

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