Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has visited the Republic of Buryatia in Siberia of the Russian Federation, the official news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday.

According to the KCNA, Kim, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, arrived at Ulan-Ude, capital of Buryatia, Tuesday morning.

He was warmly welcomed by citizens in national costumes. He was offered bread, salt, blue kerchief, milk and bouquet according to the customs of various nationalities in the region.

Kim exchanged greetings and had conversations with Byacheslav Nagovitsin, president of the Republic of Buryatia, and other officials, said the report.

He toured various places of the region including Ulan-Ude and Lake Baikal as well.

Nagovitsin hosted a reception for Kim and a special performance was also staged to welcome him Tuesday, the report added.

Kim was accompanied by Kim Yong Chun, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and minister of the People's Armed Forces and other senior DPRK officials.

Kim left Pyongyang for a visit to Russia on Aug. 20 at the invitation of Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev. He visited Russia in August 2002 last time.