DPRK top leader Kim confirms readiness to visit Russia

Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has confirmed his readiness to visit Russia, the RIA news agency quoted the speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, Valentina Matviyenko, as saying after she met Kim in Pyongyang on Saturday.

Kim "wants peace," Matvienko said after the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour. 

The timing of a visit will be discussed by the countries' diplomats, she said.

"He confirmed he is ready and willing to make an official visit to Russia," RIA quoted Matvienko as saying. "He said he does not want to delay (the visit).  

"He said, 'Meeting the president of Russia is very important to me. We should discuss the strategy and prospects of our cooperation. I, of course, would also like to discuss a number of important questions of the global agenda.'" 

Matvienko also said she had passed a message from President Vladimir Putin to Kim. 

The DPRK top leader will not be able to attend the Eastern Economic Forum, which will take place from September 11 to 13 in the city of Vladivostok, according to Matviyenko, but he will send a delegation of DPRK officials.

The DPRK is in talks with the US about a step-by-step execution of commitments reached when Kim and US President Donald Trump met at a summit in Singapore in June, another news agency, Interfax, reported, citing Matvienko.