The Russian government is coordinating its schedule regarding the visit of Kim Jong Un, the North Korean Commissioner, to Russia, but noted that it is too early to provide specific timings.
According to the RIA Novosti news agency on the 21st (local time), Andrey Rudenko, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, said, “I can confirm that the Commissioner Kim has received an invitation from President Vladimir Putin to officially visit Russia,” adding, “We hope to coordinate the time, date, and agenda of the talks through diplomatic channels.” He further noted, “It is too early to mention a specific date.”
President Putin officially invited Commissioner Kim to visit Russia during his visit to North Korea last June. Commissioner Kim has visited Russia twice in 2019 and 2023, but both visits were to meet with President Putin in the Far East and he has never visited Moscow.
Initially, there were observations in diplomatic circles that Russia's Victory Day on the 9th of this month could be an occasion for Commissioner Kim's visit to Russia, but instead, Commissioner Kim sent a delegation including Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong Chol to Russia, while he himself visited the Russian embassy in Pyongyang to deliver a message of solidarity to President Putin and the Russian people.
Some speculate that next month could see the meeting between the leaders of North Korea and Russia, as it marks the 1st anniversary of President Putin's visit to North Korea and the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. There is also an analysis that the Eastern Economic Forum, scheduled to take place in Vladivostok in September, could serve as another opportunity.
If Commissioner Kim's visit to Russia materializes, both sides are likely to discuss military and economic cooperation related to the Ukraine war, as well as the issue of North Korean troop dispatch, and the implementation of the 'comprehensive strategic partnership agreement' signed last year is expected to be a major agenda item.