Choe Ryong-hae, a top North Korean official, returned to Pyongyang Monday after a visit to Russia as a special envoy of leader Kim Jong-un, the North's state media reported.
   
Choe's weeklong trip to Moscow, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok was highlighted by his meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Russian capital.
  
Choe, the Workers' Party of Korea secretary, delivered Kim's letter to Putin, signaling the possibility of summit talks next year.
  
Kim's dispatch of Choe, one of his closest aides, to Russia was seen as part of efforts to improve ties with Moscow amid reportedly strained relations with Beijing. The North's regime is also confronted with growing international pressure over its human rights abuses and programs for weapons of mass destruction.
   
Choe's entourage included Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, Vice Economy Minister Ri Kwang-gun, and No Kwang-chol, deputy chief of the General Staff of the North's military, according to the Korean Central News Agency. (Yonhap)