NK leader set to hold talks with Russian president Tuesday

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is likely to hold summit talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Tuesday after arriving in Russia Saturday.

Kim left a week-long visit to Russia on Saturday, his first since 2002, and this will likely emerge as a new factor in the situation on the Korean Peninsula, where little progress has been made since inter-Korean denuclearization talks and a high-level U.S.-North Korea meeting.

Kim’s special train arrived in Khasan, a Russian border station, on Saturday. The reclusive North Korean leader visited the Bureiskaya Power Station, the biggest hydro-electric power station in Russian Far East, before leaving for Ulan-Ude, the third-largest city in eastern Siberia.

As the train is expected to arrive at Ulan-Ude Tuesday afternoon, a Pyongyang-Moscow summit is likely on Tuesday.

In Moscow, the Kremlin also confirmed that Kim will spend time in Russian Far East and Siberia, saying, "The meeting with Mr. Medvedev is the main event."

Moscow did not specify when the meeting will take place, simply noting that it will be held in mid-week.

Russian television aired footage of Kim waving while smiling at Russian officials welcoming him. Portamur (portamur.ru), an Amur-based Internet news agency, showed video of Russian women in traditional costumes serving the North Korean leader with bread and salt on Sunday.

Kim appeared to have gained weight, indicating that his health might have recovered. Kim Ok, known to be the reclusive leader’s fourth wife, was also seen accompanying him.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency named officials accompanying their leader, including Jang Song Taek, vice chairman of the North’s National Defense Commission, and Ju Kyu Chang, director of the Machine Building Industry Department of the ruling Workers’ Party.

zeitung@donga.com