Top DPRK leader pays condolatory visit to Russian embassy over ambassador's death

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Wednesday paid a visit to the Russian embassy here to offer condolences over the death of Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexandr Matsegora, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday.

Kim laid a bunch of flowers and observed a moment's silence in memory of Matsegora, said the KCNA report, adding that he met with members of the bereaved family and leadership of the Russian embassy and expressed deep condolences to them.

Kim said that Matsegora was an able diplomat who made a tangible contribution to the history of the DPRK-Russia friendly relations and a close friend and true comrade deeply kept in the hearts of the DPRK people, the KCNA report said.

Saying that it is a great loss not only to the Russian government and people but also the government and people of the DPRK "at a time when an important historic phase has been opened in the development of the relations between the two countries," Kim stressed that the DPRK-Russia relations will continue to develop.

According to KCNA reports, Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the DPRK, No Kwang Chol, national defense minister of the DPRK and other officials on Wednesday also paid condolatory visits to the Russian embassy over Matsegora's death. Pak Thae Song, premier of the cabinet of the DPRK, expressed deep condolences over Matsegora's death.

Matsegora died on Saturday, according to earlier KCNA reports.