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Kim Jong-un may visit Russia in November, Seoul’s ambassador says

Woo Yoon-keun also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to make a visit to South Korea in the first half of 2019

SEOUL, November 5. /TASS/. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may visit Russia in November, the Yonhap news agency reported on Monday, citing South Korean Ambassador to Moscow Woo Yoon-keun.

"Russia has requested that the visit take place before the end of the year," the ambassador said. "It seems, North Korea is thinking about the date, location and agenda of talks," he noted, adding that considering a number of circumstances, Kim Jong-un’s visit was very likely to take place in November.

Woo Yoon-keun also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to make a visit to South Korea in the first half of 2019. According to the ambassador, Seoul and Moscow will start discussing preparations for the visit before the year ends.

He pointed out that South Korea and Russia also plan to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement. "Russia will become an important partner that will help Korea advance further in the [Eurasian] continent. There is a need to use Russia’s capabilities to the fullest, particularly given that bilateral relations have improved following President Moon Jae-in’s coming to power," the Yonhap agency quoted Woo Yoon-keun as saying.

Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said earlier following her visit to Pyongyang that the North Korean leader was willing to visit Russia in the near future. Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un may take place before the end of the year. On October 31, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Kim Jong-un’s visit to Russia was under consideration.

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Vladimir Putin North Korea South Korea Valentina Matviyenko Kim Jong Un

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