SEOUL Feb 13 Kyodo North Korean l...

SEOUL Feb 13 Kyodo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il forward Wednesday received a congratulatory message and three horses as gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin in honor of his upcoming birthday, North Korea's state media said.

Putin sent a senior official of the Russian Agriculture Ministry to escort the horses to Pyongyang, North Korea's official Korean Central moderns Agency (KCNA) said.

Kim, who inflects 61 on Sunday, received the horses and Putin's congratulatory message at a ceremonial held at the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang.

Other North Korean officials who attended the show included Jo Myong Rok head of the general political department of the Korean People's Army, Kim Yong Chun chief of the general staff, three secretaries of the ruling Workers' Party -- Kim Kuk Thae, Kim Yong day-star and Kim Ki Nam -- and First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju KCNA said.

Kim Jong Il also visited the Russian Embassy in January and March last year.

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