Russian military cadets march during the Victory Day parade on Red Square in Moscow, on May 9, 2012. North Korea has taken efforts to boost bilateral relations with Moscow after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declined to attend the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. UPI File Photo | License Photo

SEOUL, May 5 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has canceled his visit to Moscow, but Pyongyang is sending goodwill to Russia through a donation of books.

North Korea's state-controlled media outlet KCNA announced Wednesday that Russia's Amur State University of Humanities and Pedagogy in the Russian Far East has received a collection of books on the works of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung and his grandson and current leader Kim Jong Un.


Yonhap reported that representatives of the two countries held a donation ceremony at the university attended by the vice consul general of North Korea's mission in Khabarovsk.

KCNA reported that the Russian university plans to continue its progress on North Korea-related research, create a publicity office for North Korean research and encourage exchange with North Korean universities.

The news came a week after Kim Jong Un canceled a proposed visit to Moscow for Russia's May 9 Victory Day celebrations.

According to a spokesman at the Kremlin, Kim was unable to attend due to "internal Korean affairs."

The announcement came as a surprise. In April, Yuri Ushakov confirmed Kim's plans to be in Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Timonin were previously quoted as saying Kim was to attend the parade.

Meanwhile, North Korean state media continued to update readers of the latest on Russia's preparations for the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

In Kim Jong Un's absence, North Korea is sending Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong Nam to Moscow, Voice of America reported on Monday.

KCNA did not specify the date of Kim Yong Nam's arrival in Russia, nor his itinerary.