North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a reception at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 25, 2019, in this photo provided by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. Photo courtesy of Yonhap
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, April 26 (NNN-Yonhap) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will leave Russia’s Far East city of Vladivostok on Friday afternoon after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous day, Russian media reported.
Kim will depart by train at 3 p.m. (local time), Russian news service Tass reported, citing “organizers.”
“At 3 p.m., an official farewell ceremony will start at the railway station,” the organizers were quoted as saying.
The report did not say where Kim will be headed, but he is expected to return to Pyongyang.
On Thursday, Kim held his much anticipated summit with Putin, during which he stressed his “unwavering” resolve to deepen Pyongyang-Moscow ties, with his Russian counterpart calling for a peaceful resolution of the North’s nuclear quandary.
He was expected to take a tour of the Pacific port city, but the schedule appears to have been canceled or truncated due in part to bad weather.
Flanked by top party, military and state officials, Kim began his three-day visit to Russia, the first one since he took power in late 2011, on Wednesday.
The trip came amid his push to break a logjam in a denuclearization parley with the United States, ease sanctions pressure and catalyze his drive for economic development.
NNN-YONHAP
