Kim Jong-il takes part in the traditional bread-and-salt welcoming ceremony on his arrival in Novoburesky village in Amur province, August 21, 2011.?[Photo/Agencies]?

PYONGYANG - Kim Jong-il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), visited the Amur Region in Russia's Far East on Sunday, the official KCNA news agency said.

According to the KCNA, Kim, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK, was warmly welcomed by the Russian people at the Bureya Railway Station and greeted by Amur Region Governor Oleg Kozhemyako and other senior Russian officials.

Kim visited the Bureya hydroelectric plant and was accompanied by senior officials, KCNA reported.

Earlier Sunday, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported that Kim visited the Bureya hydropower station and inspected its operation and observed water discharge.

Kim's special train stopped at the Novosibirsk railway station and was welcomed there by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev's representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Viktor Ishayev and Amur Region governor.

The DPRK top leader will travel to Ulan Ude, where he is expected to meet with Medvedev around mid-week, Itar-Tass said.

Kim left Pyongyang to pay a visit to Russia on Saturday at the invitation of Medvedev.

Kim had visited Russia twice before. From July 26 to August 18, 2001, the DPRK leader traveled by train across Russia's territory from Vladivostok to Moscow and St. Petersburg. He visited Russia's Far East in August 2002.