UPDATE - North Korea's Kim Departs For Russia By Private Train Ahead Of Talks With Putin - Reports

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th April, 2019) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has started his trip to Russia by a private train ahead of his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, local media reported.

Kim is expected to arrive in Vladivostok on Wednesday.

The Korean Central news Agency reported that Kim was seen off by leading officials from the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK), the country's government and the armed forces.

The media also specified that Kim was accompanied by Kim Phyong Hae and O Su Yong, members of the Political Bureau and vice-chairmen of the WPK Central Committee, country's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army Ri Yong Gil and other high-ranking officials.

Kim's wife, Ri Sol Ju, is not accompanying the North Korean leader in his trip to Russia, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

On Tuesday, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said that Putin and Kim would meet on April 25 in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. Ushakov noted that the talks would focus on a political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula. It will be the first meeting of the leaders of Russia and North Korea.