Russia's Far Eastern Federal University Preparing For Possible Putin-Kim Summit - Sources

Russia's Far Eastern Federal University Preparing for Possible Putin-Kim Summit - Sources

One of the buildings of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Russia's Vladivostok is supposedly being closed to prepare for a prospective meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, sources told Sputnik

VLADIVOSTOK (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th April, 2019) One of the buildings of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Russia's Vladivostok is supposedly being closed to prepare for a prospective meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, sources told Sputnik.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the meeting between Putin and Kim may take place in the FEFU's Building S (sports).

On Wednesday, there was an announcement on the copy center desk in this building, saying "In connection with the arrival of Kim Jong Un, the copy center is closed from April 17 to April 24. Show solidarity, print in Building B".

In addition, the announcement on the main sport hall says "From April 17 to 30, the hall is closed for technical reasons."

A university employee confirmed to Sputnik that the building had indeed been closed in preparation for the visit of the two countries' leaders.

"Most likely, they will close everything in the building, prepare for Putin's arrival and meeting [with Kim]," the source said.

Another employee of the university also confirmed this information. At the same time, the administrator of Building S told Sputnik that the building was closing on Wednesday afternoon, but did not explain a reason.

"I will not tell you exactly what time the building closes, but after lunch, as far as I know. I cannot answer the question [about the reason for closing]," the administrator said.

Students said that they would practice at the outdoor stadium after lunch. Workers were moving furniture inside the building.

"The press service neither confirms, nor refutes this information," a spokesperson for the university told Sputnik in response to a request to confirm the preparation of Building S for a possible meeting between Putin and Kim Jong Un.

The spokesperson added that the safety of employees, students and guests of the campus is ensured in a normal mode.

"There are currently no reasons to boost security measures for people in campus," he said.

On Tuesday, a previously unscheduled flight from Pyongyang to Vladivostok appeared in the timetable of the Russian city's international airport for April 23 amid media reports that Putin and Kim might meet soon.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that he could not confirm media reports related to the meeting between Kim and Putin, although he said that the summit was being prepared.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, citing unnamed sources in Moscow, that the North Korean leader's visit to Russia could take place next week. The agency's sources claimed that the meeting of the two leaders might take place on April 24, when the Russian president will be in the Far East.

In early April, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Moscow made specific proposals about the possible dates of the two leaders' meeting to Pyongyang, adding that the issue was being discussed.