Kim Jong Il, chairman of the Workers Party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and "Dear Leader" of his people, has finally arrived in Moscow following a minor bomb scare and a major security operation.
That, at least, is what we have been told, for the Dear Leader's request that no Western journalists should be allowed near any of his engagements has, so far, been rigorously obeyed.
A bomb scare during the morning rush-hour wrought havoc and for four hours before his armoured train was due to arrive at the magnificent Yaroslavsky Station, all other rail traffic was halted. This did little to endear the Dear Leader to the limitchiki - workers who live in the distant suburbs.
But workers, it would appear, are not a high priority for the chairman of the Workers Party. Astonishing reports, attributed to officials of the Russian Economy Ministry, suggest that Russia and North Korea have come to a novel agreement by which Pyongyang will pay off its $5.5 billion debt. Instead of paying back the money in instalments, Chairman Kim intends to send thousands of his citizens to the Russian Federation where they will work for no pay in the labour camps of Siberia.
While in Moscow, Mr Kim is due to stay at the Kremlin as a guest of President Putin rather than at the North Korean Embassy, outside which human rights activists are expected to demonstrate. He and Mr Putin are due to issue a statement supporting the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile treaty (ABM) which stands in the way of President Bush and his Ballistic Missile Defence project.
There is also likely to be an arms deal by which Russia will sell conventional weapons to North Korea, but the Kremlin is almost certain to stop short of selling its sophisticated S 300 cruise missiles as this would be regarded in Washington as a hostile and provocative act.
Russia may also suggest building a nuclear power station just across its border in North Korea and the talks will also feature a possible spur of the Trans-Siberian Railway through North Korea into South Korea.
Having travelled overland for 10 days and almost 6,000 miles Mr Kim will want to make the most of his two days in the capital and Russian officials are experts at making sure visiting dignitaries are treated well.
In this case, however, they will have their hands full. Mr Kim has brought 150 people along for the journey. Among those privileged enough to spend day after day rattling along the steppes are some of the country's most important people. They include Yon Hyong Muk, a former prime minister; Kim Yong Chun, chief of the general staff; and Jon Hui Jong, the chief protocol officer. In fact, anyone thought capable of staging a coup during Kim Jong Il's absence appears to have been brought along for the ride.
Another symptom of Mr Kim's paranoia has been his insistence that two locomotives travel the track in front of the armoured train to ensure no mines have been laid. When the two days of talks are over the Dear Leader, who is afraid of flying, will board his train again for the long journey into the eastern dawn.
