DPRK leader Kim Jong Il has arrived in Russia for an official visit. Kim is scheduled to meet with Russian President Dimitry Medvedev.

Kim Jong Il's train passed over the border into Russia on Saturday morning near the border town of Khasan. The DPRK leader is in Russia on an official visit at the invitation of Russian President Dimitry Medvedev. Kim is set to travel on to Ulan Ude, where he's expected to meet with Medvedev.

Kim's trip comes after several months of Russia-DPRK diplomacy. In May foreign intelligence chief Mikhail Frakdkov held talks with Kim in Pyongyang. These were reportedly focused on economic projects and humanitarian assistance, with Russia agreeing to send 50 thousand tons of food aid to the DPRK.

Kim made his first public visit to Russia in 2001 where he held talks with then-president Vladimir Putin, who is now Prime Minister. The 20-day visit culminated with the signing of the Moscow Declaration, under which both countries pledged to help shape a new fair system of world order on the basis of international law.

The South Korean media say the purpose of the visit is to seek political and economic aid, while Russia is perceived as willing to push for stabilization on the Korean Peninsula.