North Korea World News: Leader Kim Jong-Un to Visit Moscow, Russia for World War II Celebrations?
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un could be visiting Russia this year, according to South Korean media and the Kremlin. It remains uncertain, however, whether Jong-Un will visit himself or send another dignitary for Russia's celebrations of the end of the Second World War.
The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Tuesday that Kim would visit Russia for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War, what Russians call the Second World War. The celebrations will take place on May 9.
At the time of the reporting, the Kremlin had not confirmed to Yonhap whether Jong-Un would attend the celebrations.
"The list of attendees has not been finalized yet, as we continue a process of confirming the attendance of those invited," the statement said.
However, this would be Jong-Un's first official trip abroad since becoming leader. Yet, South Korean officials also posit Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the North Korean Supreme People's Assembly, could be sent in his stead as head of state.
According to the Moscow Times, however, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed that Kim would be traveling to Moscow as a guest during the anniversary.
"The participation of the North Korean leader was confirmed, we are getting ready for his arrival," he told the Interfax news agency. He will be among 20 other heads of state that will attend, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Leaders of the European Union countries and the United States were invited, according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
This may be the North's latest attempt to improve relations with Russia. Prof. Andrei Lankov, writing for Al Jazeera, explained how North Korea has been trying to improve its relationship with Russia, particularly trade between the two nations.
Russian minister for the Development of the Far East Alexander Galushka plans that the two nations will reach around $20 billion worth of mutual trade by 2020.
Yet, Russia will continue to emphasize North Korea denuclearization, according to Yonhap. Ambassador Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, explained Russia remains committed to North Korea stopping its nuclear armament program and the six-party agreement.
The six-party agreement involves South Korea, North Korea, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan in hope to reach an agreement with the North but these halted in 2008 when Pyongyang left in protest.
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