Putin expected to visit N. Korea in a few days: Seoul official
All News 02:00 June 13, 2024
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ASTANA, June 13 (Yonhap) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit North Korea "in a few days," a South Korean presidential official said Thursday.
The official confirmed Putin's plan to visit Pyongyang in a meeting with reporters in Astana while President Yoon Suk Yeol was in Kazakhstan on a state visit as part of his Central Asia trip that also includes Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
"Strategic dialogue on diplomacy and security between South Korea and China are scheduled around the similar time of Putin's visit to North Korea," the official spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"Taking all these into consideration, we will make sure that our major allies and strategic partners will align with South Korea on issues regarding North Korea," the official added.
Putin is expected visit to North Korea as early as this month, the Russian daily Vedomosti reported earlier this week. If realized, it would be Putin's first trip to Pyongyang in 24 years.
The Kremlin earlier said Putin had accepted Kim's invitation to visit North Korea during last year's summit.
North Korea and Russia have been bolstering military ties and expanding the scope of cooperation in various fields since the Kim-Putin summit.
South Korea and China have been preparing to hold "two plus two" talks with their senior foreign and defense officials in Seoul early next week, according to diplomatic sources.
This Sept. 14, 2023, image, taken from Korean Central Television footage, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)