North Korea says its leader Kim Jong Un's latest visit to Russia has brought about a radical new turn in the history of the development of bilateral ties.
Kim began his journey home after visiting Far Eastern Federal University and other places in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok on Sunday.
On Monday, Pyongyang unveiled through state-run Korean Central Television photographs of a send-off ceremony for Kim held at a railway station and Kim departing on his special train.
During his visit to the university earlier in the day, Kim reportedly expressed his hope that it will play an important role in the cooperation between his country and Russia in the field of science and technology.
Kim also met North Korean students studying at the university. He told them they should become "competent sci-tech talents and revolutionary talents" who will contribute to their country's prosperity.
Pyongyang says in the news report that Kim's first visit to Russia in four years further consolidated traditional bilateral ties and opened a new chapter in their development.
The visit is Kim's first overseas trip since the start of the pandemic. It comes ahead of next month's anniversary of the founding of the ruling Korean Workers' Party.