SEOUL -- The Republic of Korea's Unification Ministry said Monday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) sent a special envoy of top leader Kim Jong Un to Russia, seemingly with the intention of diversifying its diplomatic relations.
"Our government sees the dispatch of Choe Ryong Hae to Russia as a special envoy as being in an extended line with North Korea ( DPRK)'s attempt to diversify its external relations," Unification Ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol told a press briefing.
The DPRK's official Korean central news agency (KCNA) reported last week that top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un plans to send Choe, a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, to Moscow, without elaborating on the purpose of his trip.
Choe began his eight-day trip to Russia from Monday to discuss bilateral relations and security conditions in the region, according to the Russian foreign ministry's statement cited by ROK's news media. Choe will visit Khabarovsk and Vladivostok, Russia's Far East cities near the DPRK border, on his way home from Moscow.
"North Korea (DPRK) seems to be pushing for aggressive diplomacy as the international community's cooperation deepened against it on issues such as the nuclear program and human rights, " said Lim. He added that it remains to be seen on specific purpose of Choe's trip and the subsequent results.
ROK's news media said, without citing sources, that Choe is likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip.
The DPRK has recently tried to improve ties with Russia as part of efforts to break diplomatic isolation.
Vice Marshal Hyon Yong Chol, Minister of the People's Armed Forces, met Putin in Moscow on Nov. 8 and conveyed Kim Jong Un's greetings. DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong visited Russia on Sept. 30.
The two countries recently strengthened economic cooperation, for instance the upgrading of the DPRK's railroad by Russia in exchange for its access to the DPRK natural resources.
Cheong Seong-chang, a senior analyst at the private Sejong Institute, said over phone that if Choe meets with Putin, he is expected to talk about holding a summit between Putin and leader Kim Jong Un.
The summit could enable the DPRK to break its diplomatic isolation, while making it possible for Russia to expand influence on the Korean Peninsula, the analyst added.
The DPRK has acted to break diplomatic isolation, with a focus on improving its relations with not only neighboring countries like Russia, Japan and Mongolia but also countries in as far as Europe and Africa.
Kang Sok Ju, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, traveled to Europe and Mongolia in September when the DPRK's foreign minister visited Iran, Russia and the United States.
In late October, Kim Yong Nam, chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, concluded his African tour, visiting Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo and Uganda to boost ties.
Also late last month, a Japanese government mission paid a four- day visit to the DPRK at its invitation to learn about the probe into the abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.
The DPRK also showed willingness to improve relations with the United States by releasing all three Americans detained there.
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