Kim Jong Il Visits Republic of Buryatia, Russia

Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, visited the Republic of Buryatia in Siberia of the Russian Federation Tuesday.
He arrived at Ulan-Ude, the capital city of the Republic that morning.
He exchanged greetings with Byacheslav Nagovitsin, president of the Republic of Buryatia, Matbei Gershevich, chairman of the People's Khural, and other officials.
He had conversations with leading officials of the Republic of Buryatia.
He cruised Lake Baikal, a large natural lake of Russia.
The lake is associated with unforgettable historic relics as it was visited by President Kim Il Sung on his way to foreign tour in July 1961, 50 years ago.
Kim Jong Il was greeted by the captain and sailors of passenger ship "Inperiya".
He got aboard the ship. Cruising the lake whose water seems to convey the feelings of the DPRK-Russia friendship just as it did half a century ago, he recollected the brilliant life and exploits of Kim Il Sung, who devoted his all to the friendship among countries and accomplishment of the human cause of independence.
That day Byacheslav Nagovitsin hosted a luncheon in honor of Kim Jong Il visiting the Republic.