North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has reportedly said to a Russian delegation recently visiting Pyongyang that his return visit to Seoul is not likely to be made possible within this year.

National Defense Commission Chairman Kim expressed his opinion on US-North and South-North dialogues when meeting twice with Russia's chief-governor of the Far East Konstantin Pulikovsky, who was in Pyongyang from February 10 to 12, and asked him to deliver his views to President Putin, said a Russian diplomatic source.

Suggesting his disappointment on US President George W. Bush calling the North an "axis of evil," the leader of the secluded country also requested the Russian presidential envoy to tell President Kim Dae-jung that he would be closely watching Korea-US summit meeting results.

In addition, chairman Kim showed great interest in the situation after the Korea-US summit and repeatedly demanded Russia to follow suit. Using the word "patience," Kim said he would make a decision after closely observing how the situation unfolds.

On the issue of connecting the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR) with Trans-Korean Railroad (TKR), which is the biggest concern of Russia, Kim made clear his will to re-link the railroad from the North to the South, and said North Korean railroad agency officials will continue to negotiate with their counterparts in the South and Russia.

(From Moscow, Jeong Byeong-seon, bschung@chosun.com )