North Korea's Kim Jong-il in rare Russia visit

Kim Jong-il rarely goes abroad, and never travels by plane

North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, has begun his first trip to Russia since 2002.

His train arrived in the border town of Khasan in the Russian
Far East, where he is to hold talks with President Dmitry Medvedev in
the coming days.


They are likely to discuss the possible resumption of international talks over North Korea's nuclear programme.


North Korea is in talks with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom about a pipeline through its territory to South Korea.


A delegation from the company visited North Korea last month.


The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul says the pipeline would
have a far-reaching political and economic impact, and potentially allow
North Korea to control a key energy supply to the South.


South Korea's Yonhap news agency says the North Korean leader
is expected to visit a dam north of Vladivostock, before holding summit
talks with President Medvedev in Siberia on Tuesday.


The agency quotes an unnamed official as saying Mr Kim may also meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.


The leader's visit comes amid severe economic hardship and food shortages in North Korea.


On Friday, Moscow announced it was providing 50,000 tons of wheat to Pyongyang.