Pipeline Politics in Kim's Russia Visit

SEOUL - North Korea leader Kim Jong-il's trip to Russia this week has been cast as simple aid-seeking mission, but both sides appear to have a grander strategy. While Pyongyang aims to extricate itself from China's ever-increasing influence by inching closer to the Kremlin, Russia is eyeing lucrative gas and oil pipeline links through the North to South Korea.

"The king is old and ill. The prince is young and inexperienced. The kingdom is running out of food. Sensing his days are numbered, the king takes an arduous journey to personally ask old friends for aid." This is how North Korea leader Kim Jong-il's trip is viewed by many in South Korea and around the world.