N. Korean leader Kim watches Russian performance

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has watched a performance by a Russian military ensemble that is visiting the country to mark the 64th birthday of its Workers` Party, Pyongyang`s media said Sunday, according to Yonhap News.

Kim`s outing to the Russian performance on Saturday was his first public activity in a week after reports of his appearance at local celebrations of the Oct. 10 anniversary.

After watching the performance by the Academy Ensemble of the Russian Ministry of Interior, Kim held a "friendly talk" with the ensemble`s chief, Victor Yeliseev, and Russian ambassador to the country, Valery Sukhinin, said the Korean Central News Agency.

Kim "warmly welcomed the ensemble`s visit to the DPRK (North Korea) and expressed thanks for its enthusiastic performances given in Pyongyang and local areas, pleasing the servicepersons and people of the DPRK who are marking the 64th birthday of the WPK,"the report said.