SEOUL, South Korea – {Kim Jong Un, an enigma for the rest of the world, is likely to make his first foreign trip as North Korean leader to Moscow where he will be part of Russian celebrations for the 70th anniversary of World War II victory.}
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that North Korea had given a “positive”, response “as a first signal” to an invitation for Kim to attend the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.
The ceremony is likely to be attended by about 20 foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. The event is to take place on May 9.
Lavrov told reporters that invitations had been sent “to heads of lots of foreign states, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, BRICS, Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, European Union, member states of the anti-Hitler coalition, heads of international and regional organizations”.
He said “around twenty top state officials confirmed their decision to attend the event”.
“There is still enough time ahead and confirmations of participating in the event continue to come,” the foreign minister said.
South Korean President Park Geun Hye has also been invited and but it remains unclear if she will visit Moscow.
Park hasn’t made her mind as of now whether to attend the ceremony or not, South Korea’s Yonhap News said Thursday, citing her spokesman Min Kyung Wook.
“The presidential schedule for this May has not been drafted yet and she looks to all the alternatives,” Min said.
If Park and Kim both attend the ceremony in Moscow, the possibility of a meeting between the two archrivals could not be ruled, according to Yonhap news agency.
The two warring neighbours have sent peace overtures to each other recently.
Kim in his New Year speech said he was open to the “highest-level” meeting with South Korea.
The peace gesture was reciprocated by Park on Jan 12 saying that she was willing to meet with Kim without preconditions while urging North Korea to drop its nuclear pursuit in order for any meeting to produce meaningful progress.
Kim has never met any head of state or made foreign trips since he took power after his father, Kim Jong Il, died at the end of 2011.
He remains an enigma for much of the world because not much is reported from the reclusive nation that is battling tough international economic sanctions over its military nuclear programme.
{{BNN}}
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