Kremlin confirms Kim to attend WWII ceremony



By Yi Whan-woo



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may turn down Russia's invitation to visit Moscow in May, although the Kremlin has confirmed that he accepted its offer, according to experts Wednesday.



"There are more than three months remaining until May and it's too early to predict whether Kim will take a trip to Russia," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.



Yoo Ho-yeol, a North Korean studies professor at Korea University, agreed.



"Pyongyang has been unpredictable in its diplomacy, and Kim could change his mind abruptly depending on what happens between now and May," he said. "For instance, Pyongyang could conduct its fourth nuclear test and the United States could impose additional economic sanctions against North Korea."



According to Yonhap News Agency, Wednesday, Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, confirmed that Kim would attend the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.



The event will take place on May 9 in Moscow.



The Seoul-based media said Kim was among a number of heads of state who accepted Putin's invitation. Peskov, however, declined to unveil the list of those leaders.



Experts speculated chances are high that Kim will capitalize on the ceremony to build his relationships with the leaders of other countries.



Kim took helm of the reclusive state in December 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. The incumbent North Korean leader will make his multilateral diplomacy debut if he attends the Victory Day ceremony.



The Kremlin invited the leaders from various geopolitical and economic blocs around the globe. President Park Geun-hye also received an invitation, fueling speculation that an inter-Korean summit may take place there.



"For Kim, he would have a chance to share his policies with other heads of the states in Moscow," Yang said. "He also could put pressure on China, which has been North Korea's closest ally, by showing off the country's enhanced ties with Russia."



According to Yoo, Russia could also highlight Kim's participation to attract other leaders of the world.



"Both Moscow and Pyongyang have been internationally isolated amid the Ukraine crisis and nuclear threats. And they will try to escape from such isolation in May," Yoo said.



He, however, added it would not be a "breach of etiquette" for Kim even if he scraps his plan to visit Moscow.



"At this point, nothing has been fixed whether Kim will engage in multilateral talks or bilateral meeting with his international counterparts."



Russia invited leaders of the Allied countries in World War II including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil Mexico and South Africa.



Their former client states and colonies, including India and the Philippines are also on the invitation list.



Others were member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which were formerly parts of the Soviet Union, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova.



Representatives of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), such as China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, have also been invited. The SCO seeks political, economic and military collaboration in Eurasia. Russia is also its member.



