Russia invites North Korean leader to visit

The Russian government has reportedly invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to visit Russia, a Kremlin spokesperson said on Monday.

The spokesperson noted that the visit — if it happens — would be part of an economic forum held in the eastern city of Vladivostok in September, according to Reuters.

Ivan Melnikov, a deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended the invitation when he visited North Korea last week, the news service reported.

{mosads}

The invitation comes as the U.S. and North Korea prepare for their June 12 summit meeting to discuss nuclear disarmament.

President Trump last month suspended the summit after the U.S. and North Korea traded harsh words. He announced on Friday, however, that it was back on after meeting with a top North Korean official in the Oval Office.

North Korean state media reported over the weekend that Syrian President Bashar Assad announced plans to visit North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“I am going to visit [North Korea] and meet HE Kim Jong Un,” Assad said as he received the credentials of Pyongyang’s ambassador late last week, Reuters reported, citing the KCNA news agency.

“The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political caliber and wise leadership of HE Kim Jong Un,” Assad added, according the report.