The first summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have the green light to happen in late April.
This according to reports out of Russia that cite the Kremlin.
But the big question remains on what the two leaders will talk about during their time together.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
Citing the Kremlin,... Russian news service RIA Novosti says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Russia this month for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The news service, along with other Russian news outlets reported the North Korean leader will make the visit at Putin's invitation,... as announced by a Kremlin press release.
However, the report did not give further details,.. including dates or the venue.
Speculation has been rising that Kim and Putin will hold their first summit in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok next week,... when the Russian president travels to the city on his way to China for an international conference.
According to Japan's Kyodo News,... citing unidentified sources,... reports the North Korean leader plans to make a three-day visit to Russia beginning next Wednesday.
It added Kim plans to travel by train and hold the summit with Putin on Russky Island,.. an island close to Vladivostok.
Russian media has also reported the eastern Russian city would be the likely venue... citing some restrictions being imposed at facilities in the city.
Japan's Fuji News Network also aired footage of a man presumed to be Kim's protocol chief of staff, Kim Chang-son,... checking a train station in Vladivostok.
Experts say the summit will discuss trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Pyeongyang and Moscow,... as well as the North lobbying for an international sanctions relief,... while Russia will likely call on North Korea to freeze its nuclear weapons program.
Putin has publicly supported talks between Pyeongyang and Washington,... but openly stated that North Korea needs to be given solid security guarantees in return for giving up its nuclear arsenal.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.