The South Korean Ministry of Defense said today, Monday, that it sees a "possibility" of a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid speculation about Kim's potential visit to Russia.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that this assessment from the Ministry of Defense spokesman Jeon Ha Kyu came amid media reports suggesting that Kim and Putin might hold a summit on the sidelines of an economic forum in Vladivostok this week, although there has been no statement from Pyongyang or Moscow regarding Kim's potential visit.

The spokesman told reporters who asked about the potential visit by the North Korean leader to Russia, "The assessment of the Ministry of Defense is that there is a possibility that Kim Jong Un will visit Russia."

He added, "If the visit takes place, we believe that efforts will be made to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin."