VLADIVOSTOK, Russia -- Until recently, the leader of North Korea's Stalinist state had never been known to meet a noncommunist, travel abroad as head of state or publicly utter more than a single slogan at a military parade.
But officials here last week said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will visit this port on the Sea of Japan Sept. 1-4, continuing an effort to reach out to the world that has taken on increasing momentum since his summit with South Korea's president in June.
Kim's trip to Russia will be followed Sept. 19 by a visit from Li Peng, the speaker of China's Parliament and the second-highest official in its Communist Party, said Lada Astikas, spokeswoman for the Primorye region, which borders China and North Korea.
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