Gerald
08-20-11, 08:20 AM
North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, has begun his first trip to Russia since 2002.
His train arrived in the border town of Khasan in the Russian Far East, where he is to hold talks with President Dmitry Medvedev in the coming days.
They are likely to discuss the possible resumption of international talks over North Korea's nuclear programme.
North Korea is in talks with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom about a pipeline through its territory to South Korea.
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4694/article13266500be8f5b50.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/article13266500be8f5b50.jpg/)
Kim Jong-il rarely goes abroad, and never travels by plane.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul says the pipeline would have a far-reaching political and economic impact, and potentially allow North Korea to control a key energy supply to the South.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency says the North Korean leader is expected to visit a dam north of Vladivostock, before holding summit talks with President Medvedev in Siberia on Tuesday.
The agency quotes an unnamed official as saying Mr Kim may also meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14600366
Note: 20 August 2011 Last updated at 06:15 GMT
His train arrived in the border town of Khasan in the Russian Far East, where he is to hold talks with President Dmitry Medvedev in the coming days.
They are likely to discuss the possible resumption of international talks over North Korea's nuclear programme.
North Korea is in talks with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom about a pipeline through its territory to South Korea.
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4694/article13266500be8f5b50.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/article13266500be8f5b50.jpg/)
Kim Jong-il rarely goes abroad, and never travels by plane.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul says the pipeline would have a far-reaching political and economic impact, and potentially allow North Korea to control a key energy supply to the South.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency says the North Korean leader is expected to visit a dam north of Vladivostock, before holding summit talks with President Medvedev in Siberia on Tuesday.
The agency quotes an unnamed official as saying Mr Kim may also meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14600366
Note: 20 August 2011 Last updated at 06:15 GMT