Moscow Gets Ready to Welcome Kim Jong Un

By The Moscow Times

Jan. 28, 2015

The North and Russia have been looking to boost ties. KCNA / Reuters

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Wednesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will be coming to Moscow for the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

“The participation of the North Korean leader was confirmed, we are getting ready for his arrival,” Peskov told Interfax, adding that a number of foreign leaders have also confirmed their presence.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week that invitations to the celebration had been sent out to various heads of state, including members of the European Union and the United States. Around 20 leaders have confirmed their presence, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

U.S. Ambassador to Moscow John Tefft said that President Barack Obama has no plans to visit Moscow for Victory Day, the TASS news agency reported last week.

This will be Kim Jong Un's first foreign visit since he succeeded his father Kim Jong Il as North Korean leader at the end of 2011. Kim Jong Il visited Russia twice, last time in August 2011, when he traveled across the Far East and Siberia.

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