Russia's parliamentary leader to visit N. Korea for national independence celebrations

Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin speaks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, July 23. EPA-Yonhap

A delegation from Russia's parliament, led by lower house chairman Vyactheslav Volodin, will visit North Korea this week to celebrate the country's 80th anniversary of national independence, North Korean state media reported Tuesday.

The delegation of the State Duma will pay a "congratulatory visit" to North Korea from Thursday to Friday at the invitation of the North's Supreme People's Assembly on the occasion of the anniversary, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

On Aug. 15, both South and North Korea mark the 80th anniversary of their liberation from 35 years of brutal Japanese colonial rule from 1910-45. The subsequent 1950-53 Korean War left the Korean Peninsula divided into South and North Korea.

Volodin is cited as one of those closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Once in North Korea, he could meet with state leader Kim Jong-un.

On the 70th anniversary in 2015, delegations from Russia's upper chamber and defense ministry visited North Korea for celebrations.