Top aide to N. Korean leader Kim Jong Un heads to Russia

PYONGYANG/BEIJING (Kyodo) - A high-ranking official from the North Korean regime has departed the capital city for Moscow, accompanied by a group of key North Korean officials, according to Kyodo news. Jo Yong Won, a prominent secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, embarked on this journey by air on Saturday.

This delegation's visit to Russia coincides with the imminent trilateral summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is set to occur on Thursday. Jo, who holds the position of Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, was granted permission to visit Russia at the behest of Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who presently leads the ruling United Russia party.

The specifics of Jo's itinerary remain undisclosed. However, it is anticipated that Jo will employ this opportunity to bolster bilateral relations through discussions with Medvedev and other Russian officials.

In recent times, North Korea has been intensifying its exchanges of senior officials with both Russia and China. Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, along with the Russian ambassador to North Korea, greeted Jo at Pyongyang International Airport as he left for Moscow.