Preparations Ongoing for North Korean Leader Kim's Upcoming Visit to Russia

Synopsis

As reported by a Russian Minister, preparations are actively being made for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia this year, although the exact date remains unclear. This follows a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Key Takeaways

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un plans to visit Russia.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko confirmed the preparations.
Sergey Lavrov is set to visit Pyongyang soon.
Speculation surrounds the timing of the visit for May 9's Victory Day.
This will be Kim's third visit to Russia.

Seoul, March 27 (NationPress) Preparations are in progress for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia this year, according to a statement from a Russian Minister on Thursday.

In a briefing with reporters in Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko indicated that Russia is gearing up for Kim's visit, as reported by Russian news outlets TASS and Ria Novosti, although the precise timing of the visit remains unspecified.

Additionally, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to visit Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, to carry on strategic discussions, according to the reports.

This information surfaces amidst increasing speculation regarding Kim's possible visit to Russia in honor of the country's 80th Victory Day anniversary on May 9, which could serve as a reciprocal gesture following Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in June of last year.

During that visit, Putin extended an invitation to Kim for summit discussions in Moscow.

Earlier this month, Rudenko visited Pyongyang, where he met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu to discuss the arrangement of "political contacts at high and top levels," as previously reported by TASS.

Last week, Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary of Russia's Security Council, also traveled to Pyongyang to meet with Kim and conveyed a message from Putin, as cited by the Yonhap news agency and reported by TASS and Ria Novosti.

North Korea and Russia have been increasingly aligned since Kim and Putin signed a mutual defense agreement during the Russian President's visit to Pyongyang last year, which has enhanced military collaboration and led to the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

If realized, Kim's visit to Russia this year would be his third trip, following visits to Vladivostok in 2019 and the Vostochny Cosmodrome space facility in the Amur region in 2023.

On March 22, the North Korean leader reiterated his steadfast support for Russia's military actions in Ukraine during a meeting with Security Council Secretary Shoigu in Pyongyang.