The first female president of South Korea was given a ceremonial welcome as she began a state visit to the UK yesterday.
Park Geun-hye was greeted with smiles by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh as she arrived at Horse Guards Parade.
President Park, who is staying at Buckingham Palace during her three-day visit, was introduced to dignitaries on the royal podium by the Queen.
The president shook hands with Prime Minister David Cameron, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Secretary Theresa May.
A 41-gun salute was fired in nearby Green Park by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery to mark the arrival of the president – who was sworn in on February 25 this year.
After the Korean national anthem was played by the Band of the Welsh Guards, President Park inspected the guard of honour provided by 1st Battalion Welsh Guards
The president then joined the monarch and Prince Philip in a state carriage procession to Buckingham Palace.
Crowds lined the Mall to cheer the procession.
Concern over North Korea’s growing nuclear capability has increased in the past year after it carried out its third nuclear test in February, prompting the UN to approve fresh sanctions against Pyongyang.
Ms Park took office just days after North Korea’s third test and has promised to revamp the Korean economy and enact a “trust-building” process with the North.
The 61-year-old president is the daughter of former president Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea for almost two decades after seizing power in a military coup in 1961.
At the age of just 22, Ms Park became South Korea’s first lady when her mother was shot dead in 1974 – murdered by a North Korean gunman.
The Queen and Philip paid a state visit to South Korea in 1999, while the last leader from the country to make a state visit to the UK was Roh Moo-hyun in 2004.