DPRK leader to visit Russia in May for war victory ceremony: Yonhap

Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), will visit Russia in May to attend a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in WWII, Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday citing Russia's presidential office.

"About 20 heads of state confirmed attendance (at the war victory celebrations), and DPRK leader is one of them," Russian presidential press secretary said in a written interview with Yonhap.

The Kremlin, however, noted that the final list of participants was not completed yet as the confirmation process was still underway. It did not elaborate on which countries would join the ceremony.

A week earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the country received a "positive initial signal" from the DPRK about Kim's visit to Moscow in May.

Russia marks the Soviet's WWII victory every year on May 9, inviting world leaders and holding festivities that include a massive parade on the Red Square.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye was also invited to the anniversary celebrations, boosting expectations that leaders of the two Koreas may meet in Moscow.

President Park's spokesman told reporters last week that Park's May schedules were not fixed yet.

Park said in her New Year's press conference that she can hold talks with Kim "without preconditions" to reduce the pain of division and for peaceful reunification. When she was a lawmaker, Park visited Pyongyang to meet Kim Jong Il, late DPRK leader and father of Kim Jong Un, in 2002.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un said in his New Year's speech that there was no reason not to hold the highest-level talks with Park if the atmosphere and conditions were met.

Kim has not made any overseas visit since he took power in 2011. The traditional three-year mourning period for his father ended in December 2014. Endi