N. Korea: Kim Jong-il's Train Stops Short of Russian Border

Chosun Ilbo ^ | 06/30/11

[TigerLikesRooster]

Kim Jong-il's Train Stops Short of Russian Border

An armored train believed to be carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was spotted heading to the Russian border on Tuesday evening. Diplomatic sources in Seoul said U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials confirmed that the armored train left Pyongyang and headed toward Hamgyong Province, and Kim was expected to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Vladivostok. But the train never crossed the border, according to a source.

Kremlin spokeswoman Natalya Timakova Wednesday told reporters Medvedev would attend several events during his trip to Vladivostok but no summit was scheduled with Kim. "President Medvedev will preside over a meeting covering the preparations for the APEC Summit in 2012 and tour facilities and a bridge on Ruski Island [off Vladivostok] that are being built for the summit," Timakova said.

/snip

When Russia denied a summit was scheduled, Japan's Kyodo news agency said Kim's ailing health caused the trip to be cancelled. But South Korean officials believe the reason was disagreements over the agenda. "If North Korea decided not to hold a summit, it must have been due to disagreements with Russia," said one South Korean official. "North Korea is seeking to gain concessions, but Russia may have demurred."

South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials believe there is still a chance that Kim could visit Russia during Medvedev's trip to Vladivostok. "The Russian spokeswoman said no summit was scheduled, but she didn't say there would be no summit," said one.

[driftdiver]

So did China turn him down on that last trip and now he’s trying Russia?

[TigerLikesRooster]

On the other hand, according to Reuters:

Kim cancelled Russia trip on security worry: report

Kommersant cited unidentified Kremlin sources as saying that Pyongyang had asked for a meeting but that Kim had canceled because the North Korean authorities were worried about security after media reports appeared about the trip.

"We were prepared for it (a meeting) because we use every opportunity for contact," a Kremlin source was quoted as saying.

"The media reports that a summit could take place played a significant part in the change of mind by the North Korean authorities," the source was quoted as saying.

[TigerLikesRooster]

My guess is that he is really after MiG-29’s. Russians probably said, “Nyet.”

[BossLady]

"Kim Jong-il's Train Stops Short of Russian Border"

Is this the same as -

- Kim Jong-il's elevator doesn't go to top floor?

- Kim Jong-il's 2 cans short of a six-pack?

- Kim Jong-il's battery isn't fully charged?

[Red Badger]

They don’t have ‘GoToMeeting.COM”?..........

[Red Badger]

Considering NK’s food situation:

- Kim Jong-il’s a french fry short of a Happy Meal........

[ken in texas]

Maybe he ran out of gas. That could explain why NK issued the 10 month closing of universities. All the students have to trek out to the tracks and push his train. :)

[agrace]

LOL

[Dr. Ursus]

He was waiting for the women’s soccer team to be hit with
lighting!

[InvisibleChurch]

I suspect that each country is weirded out by NK’s brand of Communism.

[SevenofNine]

Red badger that is funny ROFL
That just wrong LOL!

Gotomeeting.com LOL!

[SevenofNine]

Red badger that is funny ROFL
That just wrong LOL!

Gotomeeting.com LOL!

[AdmSmith]

He only got this:

June 29. 2011 Juch 100

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Russian Academy Ensemble

Pyongyang, June 29 (KCNA) — Leader Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting Academy Ensemble of the Interior Unit of the Russian Ministry of Interior.

The gift was handed to an official concerned by Chief of the Ensemble Viktor Yeliseev on Wednesday.
http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2011/201106/news29/20110629-43ee.html

The big question: Was it a soft or a hard gift?