Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev will likely visit North Korea soon.
 
The Voice of Russia reported North Korea’s Ambassador to Russia Kim Yong-jae said Trutnev revealed plans to visit Pyongyang during a banquet at the North Korean Embassy to mark the birthday of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung.
 
Trutnev, who is also the presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, visited South Korea last November as the head of development projects in the Russian Far East.
 
Trutnev apparently wants to visit the North to discuss boosting bilateral cooperation, including cooperation in development projects concerning Russia’s Far East.
 
Russia and the North have recently shown signs of strengthening economic cooperation. Last Thursday, Radio Free Asia said Russia plans to export coal to China through North Korea’s Rajin Port.