North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, has begun his first trip to Russia since 2002.

自2002年以来，朝鲜很少公开露面的领导人金正日开始首次俄国之行。

His train arrived in the border town of Khasan in the Russian Far East, where he is to hold talks with President Dmitry Medvedev in the coming days.

They are likely to discuss the possible resumption（恢复） of international talks over North Korea's nuclear programme.

North Korea is in talks with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom about a pipeline¹ through its territory to South Korea.

A delegation² from the company visited North Korea last month.

The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul says the pipeline would have a far-reaching political and economic impact, and potentially allow North Korea to control a key energy supply to the South.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency says the North Korean leader is expected to visit a dam north of Vladivostock, before holding summit talks with President Medvedev in Siberia on Tuesday.

The agency quotes an unnamed official as saying Mr Kim may also meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

The leader's comes amid severe economic hardship and food shortages in North Korea.

On Friday, Moscow announced it was providing 50,000 tons of wheat to Pyongyang.