고려항공, 23일 블라디보스토크행 임시편 배정 확인,... 북러 정상회담 확정?
We begin with the growing speculation on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's possible visit to Russia...
More signs are pointing to a potential summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which many believe will likely take place sometime this month.
Could North Korea be turning to Russia's support amid continuing nuclear standoff?
Our Lee Ji-won tells us more.
An extra flight from Pyeongyang to the Russian city of Vladivostok has been scheduled for North Korea's Air Koryo next Tuesday.
The plane is to take off at 11 a.m. and arrive in Vladivostok's international airport an hour and a half later.
Flights from Pyeongyang to Vladivostok are normally scheduled for every Monday and Friday.
The extra flight schedule has been confirmed by an official at Vladivostok International Airport, but the official said they do not have the exact details of it.
This further fuels speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could visit Russia next week for a summit with President Vladimir Putin.
In fact, a Russian paper, Izvestia citing a Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry official, said Russia is indeed preparing for Kim's visit in the coming week -- with the agenda including development of economic relations under the sanctions.
Neither side has officially confirmed anything about the possible meeting.
But earlier this month, Russia's presidential aide ( )Yuri Ushakov confirmed that an invitation has been handed over to the North and that Russia is waiting for a response from Pyeongyang.
Since last year, as North Korea has been getting more involved in talks with South Korea and the U.S., Kim Jong-un visited China four times.
And with the Hanoi summit collapsing without an agreement, pundits have been speculating that Kim is also likely to try to highlight the North's alliance with Russia.
"The regime needs to survive through the sanctions. And though China is a bigger partner to North Korea, it's not so easy to rely on Beijing as they still have their ongoing trade war with Washington."
Professor Park, however added that there won't be any actual economic projects or trade deals that Kim and Putin can agree on because of the sanctions. But by meeting with Putin, Kim will be standing up to the U.S., highlighting his regional alliances,... and possibly getting some humanitarian aid from Moscow as well.
Should Kim Jong-un fly over to Russia next week,... the two leaders are likely to have the first Pyeongyang-Moscow summit in 8 years on April 24th, the day after Kim's expected arrival.
Putin is scheduled to fly to Beijing for a forum on China's "One Belt One Road" initiative later that week.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.
