Kremlin Announces North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un Will Visit Russia Soon

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Wikimedia Commons/Alexei Nikolsky/The Presidential Press and Information Office/Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will soon visit Russia on an official visit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said in an announcement Monday.

"At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un will pay an official visit to Russia in the next few days," the Kremlin said in a report, reported by TASS, September 11.

Leader Kim last visited Russia in April 2019, when he and President Putin met in Vladivostok for their first talks.

At that time, the two leaders met tete-a-tete and were accompanied by their delegation. President Putin gave an official reception to welcome his North Korean counterpart. After their talks, President Putin and Leader Kim answered questions from reporters.

Meanwhile, the two also communicate in other formats. For example, President Putin congratulated Leader Kim on his election as leader of North Korea and in July.

The Russian President sent a congratulatory message on the anniversary of North Korea's victory in the Homeland Liberation War in 1950-1953. In addition, the Russian leader also traditionally congratulates his North Korean counterpart on the anniversary of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula (August 15).

According to reports from Pyongyang, Leader Kim also sent messages to President Putin on Russian national holidays or anniversaries and returned congratulations.

Last July, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang, delivered a personal message from President Putin, saw the North Korean military's newest drone missile and accompanied Leader Kim to watch a nighttime military parade.