A South Korean government source told The Korea Herald the Indonesian government will invite North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un to the Bandung Conference in April.
The visit will be Kim’s first trip as official leader of the reclusive nation since he gained power in 2011 after his father Kim Jong-Il passed away. The visit will break the norm, as it is expected for North Korean leaders travel to China for their first visit. North Korea founder Kim Il-Sung attended the conference in 1965 to commemorate its tenth anniversary.
“For Kim Jong-un, who models himself after Kim Il-sung, the Bandung meeting will be a noteworthy diplomatic schedule,” said the source.
In December, Russia invited Kim Jong-un to attend the Victory Day celebrations in May. Russian news agency TASS reported in January that Kim Jong-un accepted the invitation.
“North Korea is seeking to deepen both diplomatic and economic ties with Russia at a time when its political relationship with China remains chilly,” said South Korea’s news agency Yonhap.