The arrival of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi here Tuesday was given prominent coverage by North Korean official newspapers and by the nation's broadcast media, with state-run radio using the event at the top of its morning broadcast.
According to the Tokyo-based Korea News Service, operated by the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun), the Korean Central News Agency confirmed that Koizumi's arrival was the top news item on the regularly scheduled 10 a.m. news broadcast.
The radio report also featured a short biography of Koizumi.
Meanwhile, KCNA itself reported Koizumi's arrival in neutral terms, saying he "arrived here today by 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."