SEOUL: A leading South Korean newspaper reported on Friday on the possibility North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has travelled to Russia via train, citing eyewitness reports. The eyewitnesses told a person they had seen a VIP train, the form of transport preferred by Kim, crossing the border bound for Russia, the Chosun Ilbo daily reported.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry said it had no information and was checking into the report of a possible trip. An official for the public relations office at the National Intelligence Service said his agency was "not in a situation to confirm" Kim's alleged trip to Russia.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Japan and Washington agreed to expand their cooperation on a ballistic missile defence shield. The agreement commits the two countries to jointly produce interceptor missiles, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and US ambassador signed the deal amid fears that North Korea may fire a long-range ballistic missile.
