Russia's Foreign Minister to pass Putin's message to Kim

Igor Ivanov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, is arriving on visit to Pyongyang tomorrow. He will pass a written message from President Vladimir Putin to Kim Jong-il, North Korean leader, Mr. Ivanov said to a news conference as he was summing up his official visit to South Korea.

Once in North Korea, he will discuss bilateral partnership with the host country's negotiators--in particular, commerce, economic relations, and cultural issues. Dominating the agenda will be prospects of inter-Korean settlement.

"I think Pyongyang will be interested to know our impression of talks with the South Korean leadership on that issue," said the minister. His agenda will include a number of other international problems, he added.