re: Things are heating up again in Korea (UPDATE IN OP: US Mobilizes 2nd ID)

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Air Koryo

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BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has declined an invitation from China to attend a huge military parade next month marking China's victory over Japan in World War II, a diplomatic source said Monday.

The rejection of the Chinese invitation represents the strained political ties between the allies over the North's defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons and wayward behavior, according to the source.

China has invited world leaders to attend the military parade on Sept. 3, a high-profile show of force. Many Western leaders are expected to shun the event.

"The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is not on the list of foreign leaders who finally confirmed their attendance at the Sept. 3 military parade," the source said on the condition of anonymity.

It remains unclear whether North Korea will send its ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, to the Chinese event, according to the source.

Kim Jong-un had been widely expected to visit Moscow in May for the Victory Day celebration but did not because of "internal affairs," according to the Kremlin. Instead, Kim Yong-nam attended the Russian military parade.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye will be in China from Sept. 2-4 to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the victory, though it remains unclear whether she will attend the military parade.

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