Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to visit Pyongyang soon, North Korea’s state media reported Sunday. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Putin accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a meeting with visiting North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui on Jan. 16.

Putin’s envisioned visit would be his first since his meeting with the late Kim Jong-il, the father of the current North Korean leader Kim, on July 19, 2000, during a summit in Pyongyang. As Putin is set to brace for a presidential election on March 17, his visit will be made at an “appropriate time” after the election. KCNA quoted Choe as saying, “President Putin extended his deep appreciation to President of State Affairs Kim Jong-un’s invitation to visit Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at a convenient time. We are ready to welcome (President Putin) with all our heart,” the KCNA said.

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