The 18th leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay started at 10:15 am (0115 GMT) Monday in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The torch was kindled with the Olympic flame stored in a special lantern carried by Li Binghua, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG), who handed the torch to Pak Pyong Jong, first Vice-Chairman of the People's Committee of Pyongyang. Pak then handed it to Kim Yong Nam.

Kim Yong Nam, top legislator of the DPRK, handed the torch to the first runner Park Tu Ik.

The first runner Park Tu Ik holds the torch.

Park, 72, had scored the winner in the DPRK's 1-0 win over Italy to send his team to the World Cup soccer quarter-finals in 1966.

Thousands of cheering people lined city streets waving flowers and small flags as Park began the 20-kilometer relay, the first ever Olympic torch relay on DPRK soil.

They performed group dancing and played military marching music along the relay route, which was decorated by banners and billboards with the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay logo and slogan "Light the Passion, Share the Dream".

Park told Xinhua after his run that the Beijing Olympics is set to be a success.

The relay, expected to last four hours, began at the Tower of the Juche Idea and will conclude at the Kim Il-Sung Stadium, in which a celebration ceremony will be held.

At the launching ceremony in front of the Juche Idea Tower, the national anthems of China and the DPRK were played.

"A successful torch relay in Pyongyang will show the full support of the DPRK for the Beijing Olympics," said DPRK Olympic chief Pak Hak Seon.

Tens of thousands of full-dressed Koerans, Chinese businessmen and Chinese students in the DPRK watched the launching ceremony, applauding and raising banners which read "Cheer for Beijing, Cheer for Pyongyang and Cheer for the Olympic Games,""China-DPRK Friendship Passes on from Generation to Generation,""Wish the Torch Relay in Pyongyang a Full Success."

"It's a bright and colorful day for everybody in the city," said Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK, "The flame brings friendship, best wishes and passion to Pyongyang."

Ding Yuanlu, a Chinese teacher in Pyongyang, said he couldn't express his excitement with words. "I am proud of the Beijing Olympic Games," he added.

The Olympic flame arrived in Pyongyang early Monday morning.

The special chartered plane carrying the flame landed on the Sunan International Airport at 00:28 am local time from Seoul.

The flight, directly flying from Seoul crossing the Yellow Sea, was a special arrangement, for the two Koreas were still in antagonizing status on the 38th parallel after the 1950s Korean War.

Li Binghua carried the lantern of the flame off the plane, to be received by Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming.

Upon arrival at the airport, Li and the flame received a warm welcome by Pak Hak Seon and Pak Pyong Jong.

About 1,000 of full-dressed Koreans and Chinese students in the DPRK greeted the flame in the airport, cheering and raising banners of "Warmly Welcome Beijing Olympic Flame Arriving in Pyongyang" and "Wish the Torch Relay in Pyongyang a Full Success".

Eighty torchbearers represent different walks of life including government officials, famous athletes, working people in different fields, overseas Koreans and Chinese in the DPRK.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2008)