Kim Jong-un to attend Soviet war victory celebrations in Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has confirmed he will attend celebrations in Russia in May marking the Soviet victory over Germany in the second world war, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said yesterday, citing a Kremlin spokesman.

The trip would be Kim's first foreign visit since taking power in the reclusive state in 2011, suc ceeding his father Kim Jong-il, who died suddenly, and is likely to come before he visits China, the North's main ally.

"About 20 state leaders have confirmed their attendance, and the North Korean leader is among them," South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted the office of Kremlin spokesman as saying in response to its question to President Vladimir Putin's spokesman.

North Korea and Russia have been looking to boost ties.

The North's relations with China, on the other hand, have cooled since Kim took over and then, in 2013, defied international warnings and UN sanctions to conduct a third nuclear test.

"There is no rule that says Kim Jong-un has to go to China first," said Cheong Seong-chang of South Korea's Sejong Institute.

"As far as China is concerned, there has to be a show of a pledge by North Korea for denuclearisation before a summit is possible, and it's hard to see Kim Jong-un doing that right now."