Lavrov invites Kim to Russia as Moscow makes Pyongyang play
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang on Thursday and invited him to visit, moving to raise Moscow's profile in international efforts to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Lavrov visited the secretive state for the first time since 2009, as North Korean and US officials met for a second day to prepare the ground for an historic summit on June 12 between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader.
Russia has appeared to be on the fringes of a flurry of diplomacy as Pyongyang and Washington edge towards talks aimed at ending years of tension over North Korea's nuclear programme.
Lavrov on Thursday invited Kim him to visit Moscow.
"Come to Russia. We would be very happy to see you," Lavrov, seated across a table from Kim, said during a televised meeting.
