Kim will meet Russian president
Source: Agencies |
August 21, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his first visit in nearly a decade, a further sign of Pyongyang's increasing efforts to reach out for economic assistance and diplomatic support.
Kim arrived in Russia's Far East region yesterday.
North Korea's official media did not specify when a meeting with Medvedev would take place, but said Kim's visit was at the invitation of the Russian president.
North Korea is increasing efforts to secure aid and restart stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations. Last month, a senior North Korean diplomat visited New York to discuss ways to resume six-nation talks last held in December 2008. Earlier, the nuclear envoys of North and South Korea met in Indonesia.
Russia and North Korea both announced on Friday that Moscow was providing food assistance to Pyongyang.
Citing a "severe deficit" of food products in North Korea, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Russia would send 50,000 tons of grain to North Korea by the end of September. It said the first shipment was made on Friday.
North Korea said earlier this week that Medvedev sent a letter calling for greater energy cooperation among Russia and the two Koreas, saying it would enhance regional security. That came after Russia's foreign minister said Moscow was in separate talks with Pyongyang and Seoul on putting gas pipes through the Korean peninsula.
"The key reasons for Kim's Russian visit are to discuss receiving food aid and improving economic cooperation between the two countries," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
The 69-year-old North Korean leader also traveled to China in May this year in a trip seen by many as an attempt to secure aid and investment. It was Kim's third visit to China in just over a year.
Yang said that Kim is now seeking Russia's support.
"The North, by visiting Russia, wants to secure Russia's support on Kim Jong Un's succession as well as during the future six-party talks," Yang said, referring to Kim's third son, who is seen as his father's eventual successor.
Kim will visit the Far East region of Russia and travel west to Siberia and later the Kremlin, North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said.
The Kremlin press service said that details of Kim's visit were still being worked out with the North Korean side.
Kim arrived in Russia's Far East region yesterday.
North Korea's official media did not specify when a meeting with Medvedev would take place, but said Kim's visit was at the invitation of the Russian president.
North Korea is increasing efforts to secure aid and restart stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations. Last month, a senior North Korean diplomat visited New York to discuss ways to resume six-nation talks last held in December 2008. Earlier, the nuclear envoys of North and South Korea met in Indonesia.
Russia and North Korea both announced on Friday that Moscow was providing food assistance to Pyongyang.
Citing a "severe deficit" of food products in North Korea, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Russia would send 50,000 tons of grain to North Korea by the end of September. It said the first shipment was made on Friday.
North Korea said earlier this week that Medvedev sent a letter calling for greater energy cooperation among Russia and the two Koreas, saying it would enhance regional security. That came after Russia's foreign minister said Moscow was in separate talks with Pyongyang and Seoul on putting gas pipes through the Korean peninsula.
"The key reasons for Kim's Russian visit are to discuss receiving food aid and improving economic cooperation between the two countries," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
The 69-year-old North Korean leader also traveled to China in May this year in a trip seen by many as an attempt to secure aid and investment. It was Kim's third visit to China in just over a year.
Yang said that Kim is now seeking Russia's support.
"The North, by visiting Russia, wants to secure Russia's support on Kim Jong Un's succession as well as during the future six-party talks," Yang said, referring to Kim's third son, who is seen as his father's eventual successor.
Kim will visit the Far East region of Russia and travel west to Siberia and later the Kremlin, North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said.
The Kremlin press service said that details of Kim's visit were still being worked out with the North Korean side.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
