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North Korean leader accepts invitation to visit Russia

By JC Finley
Russia confirmed that North Korea's "leader" would visit Moscow in May, raising speculation that Kim Jong Un may attend in person. Photo by KCNA-Yonhap
Russia confirmed that North Korea's "leader" would visit Moscow in May, raising speculation that Kim Jong Un may attend in person. Photo by KCNA-Yonhap

MOSCOW, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's office confirmed Wednesday that "North Korea's leader" will visit Moscow in May.

About 20 heads of state have confirmed their attendance at the 70th anniversary celebration of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expects more state officials may attend. "There is still enough time ahead and confirmations of participating in the event continue to come."

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has not yet confirmed her attendance.

Officials in Park's government expressed doubt that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would actually appear. The Kremlin's announcement regarding North Korea's attendance did not specifically name Kim but instead noted that "North Korea's leader" had confirmed.

"When you refer to North Korea's leader, it's ambiguous at times," a South Korean unification ministry official said. "Under the North's constitution, [President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea] Kim Yong Nam represents the country in external relations."

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If Kim does travel to Russia, it will further signal deepening ties between North Korea and Russia. In November, Kim sent one of his closest aides, Choe Ryong Hae, to Russia for a weeklong trip to strengthen bilateral relations with Russia amid cooling ties with China.

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