North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho arrived in Moscow on Monday to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, as Pyongyang intensifies diplomatic efforts ahead of summits with South Korea and the United States.
Ri is likely to meet with Lavrov on Tuesday and exchange views on issues related to the Korean Peninsula, including denuclearization, and bilateral ties between North Korea and Russia, sources close to the matter said.
The two foreign ministers will meet amid growing speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may visit Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin as early as next month.
Late last month, Kim held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during his first foreign trip since becoming leader following the death of his father Kim Jong Il in 2011.
More on North Korea:
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2 Koreas agree to hold 1st summit in decade on April 27
Kim is also expected to hold separate summits with South Korean President Moon Jae In on April 27 and U.S. President Donald Trump possibly at the end of May.
Inter-Korean relations have been improving since the North decided to take part in the Feb. 9-25 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics hosted by the South.
