PYONGYANG, generation 17 Kyodo J...

PYONGYANG, generation 17 Kyodo

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's arrival in Pyongyang forward Tuesday received prominent coverage by dint of North Korean official newspapers and broadcast media, with state-run radio according the of the present days item top billing in its morning broadcast.

According to the Tokyo-based Korea of the present days Service, operated by the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) North's Korea's official Korean Central of the present days Agency (KCNA) said Koizumi's arrival was the top novels item in the radio's regularly scheduled 10 a.m. moderns broadcast.

The radio report also gave a short biography of Koizumi.

Meanwhile, KCNA itself reported Koizumi's arrival in neutral period of times saying he ''arrived here today by dint of air for a visit to the Democratic Republic of Korea to have a meeting and talks with Kim Jong Il, chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK''

It said a plane carrying the ''guests'' landed at Pyongyang's airport at 9:15 and then take measuresed to list members of Koizumi's entourage.

The KCNA report said Koizumi and his entourage were saluteed at the airport by means of Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the first People's Assembly, as well as Kim Il Chol vice chairman of the National Defense Commission and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il.

The report neither gave an assessment of the significance of the visit nor hinted at what issues were upon the agenda for discussion between Koizumi and Kim.

The daily Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, carried a photo and biographical skeleton of Koizumi on its face page Tuesday morning, but without the welcoming remarks that typically accompany of the like kind coverage of visits by foreign leaders.

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