SEOUL, May 4: North Korea’s titular head of state will travel to Moscow this month instead of the country’s young leader, Kim Jong Un, for ceremonies to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, according to state media. On Thursday, the Kremlin had said Kim Jong Un would not be attending the events in Moscow, dashing expectations for what would have been his first overseas visit since taking power in 2011 following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. Today, Pyongyang’s official KCNA news agency said Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, would visit Russia for the celebrations. While visiting Moscow would have been an opportunity for Kim Jong Un to chip away at his country’s international isolation and improve his image, some analysts had questioned whether he would choose for his first overseas visit an event where he would share the stage with several leaders and have less control over proceedings than in a two-way summit. (agencies)
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