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Kremlin: North Korean leader not coming to Moscow for Victory Day celebrations

Associated Press
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World War II era Soviet tanks T-34, front, and other military vehicles make their way to Red Square during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade which will take place at Moscow's Red Square on May 9 to celebrate 70 years after the victory in WWII, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (The Associated Press)

A woman sits in a cafe as new Russian military vehicles make their way to Red Square during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade which will take place at Moscow's Red Square on May 9 to celebrate 70 years after the victory in WWII, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (The Associated Press)

New Russian military vehicles making their way to Red Square are photographed through a cafe window during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade which will take place at Moscow's Red Square on May 9 to celebrate 70 years after the victory in WWII, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (The Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says the leader of North Korea will not be attending celebrations in Moscow for Victory Day.

The Russian foreign minister had announced in March that Kim Jong Un had accepted the invitation to take part in the May 9 celebrations on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.

It would have been his first foreign trip since taking power three years ago and was highly anticipated. North Korea, however, had never confirmed that he intended to attend.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, announced the decision on Thursday.