National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun departed for Russia on Wednesday to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Union that kicks off on Saturday.

In his 10-day trip, Rep. Chung will also visit Poland and Slovakia and meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and President Andrej Kiska of Slovakia in respective countries to discuss various issues including North Korean nuclear weapons and strengthen cooperative ties with the countries. 

The six-term lawmaker will spend the first four days in Russia’s capital Moscow, meeting dignitaries there including Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma.

He will move to St. Petersburg on Saturday to take part in the IPU meeting, deliver representative speech and meet Chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko.

In the IPU conference, Chung is expected to raise the issue of North Korea’s nuclear provocations and come up with cooperative measures with Russia and member countries. The meeting will also discuss ways to encourage cultural pluralism and the value of peace by promoting dialogues between religions and different races.

He will also participate in activities and events to support 2018 PyeongChang Olympics there.

By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com)