Park invited to Russia for Victory Day celebration: source

SEOUL, Dec. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been invited to Russia for its 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany next year, a source here said Saturday, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has also received the invitation.

"It's right that we've received an invitation from Russia, but we have to check (Park's) schedule for next year," the source told Yonhap News Agency. "Whether she will attend the ceremony or not is not yet decided."

Russia commemorates the Victory Day on May 9 every year to mark the victory in 1945 over Nazi Germany in World War II, and next year's ceremony marks another decadal anniversary.

Moscow is sending invitations to foreign leaders throughout the world, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who has never visited a foreign country since he took office in 2011.

Russia's move came as Moscow's relationships with the United States and Europe have strained since the Ukraine conflict and it has been seeking ways to strengthen ties with its long-time ally North Korea.

At the 60th Victory Day celebration in 2005, then-South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun attended the ceremony along with 52 leaders including then-U.S. President George W. Bush and then-Chinese President Hu Jintao.

brk@yna.co.kr
(END)