NIS monitoring N. Korean foreign minister’s possible trip to Russia

South Korea's spy agency said Friday that it is closely monitoring the possibility of North Korea's foreign minister visiting Russia. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment in response to a news report that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui is expected to visit Russia to attend the fourth Eurasian Women's Forum set for Sept. 18-20 in St. Petersburg. There has been speculation that Choe may travel to New York to take part in U.N. General Assembly meetings, which are set to open on Sept. 24. If Choe visits Russia, she may make a courtesy call on Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader attended the opening ceremony of the Eurasian Women's Forum in 2018. The North's foreign minister last traveled to Russia in January, when she met with Putin. North Korea and Russia have been bolstering military and other cooperation, with the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Putin holding summit talks in June in Pyongyang. They signed a new partnership treaty that includes a mutual d efense clause. Source: Yonhap News Agency