Waiting in Vain for a Pyongyang-Moscow Summit

It seems that a North Korea-Russia summit will not be arranged. At one time the Russian and Japanese press reported that North Korea's National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il would visit Russia around April 17. But the date has come and gone with no movement in Pyongyang and Moscow.

Well-informed diplomatic sources in Seoul think Pyongyang should take the blame for the postponement. According to them, from the beginning of this year, the Russian Foreign Ministry proposed several times to hold preparatory meetings to settle upon the schedule, place and agenda for a North Korea-Russia summit. But Pyongyang did not respond, which made Moscow nervous.

There are two schools of thought about the North Korean silence. According to one speculation, Chairman Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin seem to have differences about the presents they will exchange at the summit. Chairman Kim wants to purchase petroleum and new-model tanks from Russia for considerably below-market prices, but Mr. Putin disapproves.

According to another theory, Chairman Kim is insisting on Vladivostok as the location for the meeting, which would require Mr. Putin to fly to Vladivostok. It is known that Mr. Putin prefers Moscow. There are forecasts that if the summit were to be held in Moscow, then Chairman Kim would move to Vladivostok on train and transfer to a plane for Moscow.

Thus, whether a North Korea-Russia summit will be held is unclear, but it seems that North Korea has not given up hope for it. According to the Russian press, North Korea began on April 5 to restore the Tumen River area of the "friendship railroad" that connects North Korea and Russia.

by Lee Young-jong