Kremlin says Laos will be top guest at economic forum, no word on N.Korea’s Kim

Russia said on Saturday the top foreign guest at an economic forum in Vladivostok next week would be the vice president of Laos, and that it had "nothing to say" about a possible visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The New York Times reported on Monday that Kim would meet President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East this month, fanning speculation he might visit during the forum which runs from Sunday to Wednesday. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the senior foreign guest at the event would be the vice president of Laos, Pany Yathotou, with whom Putin would hold a separate bilateral meeting.