By Shannon Tiezzi
Early signs indicate that the Chinese and North Korean leaders will both visit Moscow in May.
It’s becoming increasingly likely that North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un will choose Russia as the destination for his first trip abroad since assuming power. Kim has been invited to travel to Russia in May to attend celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the European portion of World War II. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently said in a statement that the invitation received a “positive” response from Pyongyang, the latest indication that Kim will indeed make the trip.
Lavrov also told the press that Chinese President Xi Jinping has “confirmed [his] participation in the festivities.” That raises an interesting scenario – Xi and Kim might have their first-ever face-to-face meeting on Russian soil.
Writing for 38 North, Georgy Toloraya, Director of Korean Programs at the Institute of Economy at the Russian Academy of Science, notes that Kim’s visit to Moscow provides ample opportunities for Russia to broker third-party meetings – potentially even paving the way for a restart of the Six Party Talks. If this gamble pays off, it would help “bring Russia to the forefront of Korean affairs,” Toloraya writes.
Read the full story at The Diplomat