Shrouded in uncertainty for almost a year, it seems that Kim Jong Un may be finally taking steps to formally accept an invitation from the Kremlin to visit Russia.

Toward the end of Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Pyongyang in May last year, Kim Jong Un met with Russia’s top diplomat, who extended an invitation to Kim directly from Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin, for its part, has appeared somewhat anxious for a response, as Russian officials have issued several gentle reminders over the past 11 months that the invitation stands.

Now, with one of Russia’s top law enforcement