A top North Korean communist party official, Choe Ryong-hae, will visit Russia on Monday as a special envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
 
On his eight day trip, Choe, the ruling Workers' Party secretary, is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and deliver a letter from Kim Jong-un. The two are also expected to discuss arranging a North Korea-Russia summit. 
 
The North is also expected to ask for Moscow's cooperation regarding a UN resolution on the North's human rights issue, which is impending a vote at the UN. 
 
With Choe's visit, North Korea is seen as trying to improve ties with Russia and to pressure China amid its growing diplomatic isolation.