Kim Jong-il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), visited the Russian embassy in Pyongyang Tuesday evening for receiving a medal awarded by Russian president, said the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim, invited by Russia, visited the embassy for receiving a medal commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory of Russia's Great Patriotic War presented by Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Gennadiyevich Karlov on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This was Kim's third visit to the Russian embassy in four years. He visited the embassy in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Kim extended his thanks to Putin for the medal and later held friendly talks with Karlov during a reception.

Several senior DPRK officials accompanied Kim for the visit, including Premier Pak Bong Ju and Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army Kim Yong Chun.