Kim Tours Arms Plants, Bacon Factory in Siberia

MOSCOW － North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visited several defense contractors in the Siberian city of Omsk, Russia on Tuesday.

The only other time Mr. Kim has gotten off his train since he left for Moscow was at Lake Baikal.

In Omsk, he watched a performance by a Russian military choir and visited several weapons plants and a bacon factory. He expressed particular interest in Transmach, the company that builds T-80U and T-90U tanks, and Palyot, which manufactures planes and satellites.

Analysts said the visit signals the North's urgent desire for expanded military cooperation with Russia, which has shied away from new military ties with Pyongyang over the past few months in order not to jeopardize its relations with South Korea.

Observers noted that Mr. Kim's train trip across Russia runs counter to the diplomatic rule, "Thou shalt not be a burden on your host." Russian officials said unannounced itinerary changes and unannounced stops after midnight have made it difficult for them to keep track of the train's schedule.

Igor Ivanov, the Russian foreign minister, will not be in Moscow on Friday to greet Mr. Kim. First Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Avdeyev will meet the North Korean leader instead, Russian officials said.

by Kim Seok-hwan