Kim Jong-un, supreme leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has reportedly canceled his planned visit to Moscow to attend Saturday's ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory of the Great Patriotic War (1941-45).

Kim's absence avoids a possible embarrassing moment for China, Russia and the DPRK, as many would have speculated about ties between China and the DPRK, based on whether he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow or not. Given the stalled diplomatic high-level exchanges between the two countries, it is hardly good timing for their top leaders to be seen in public together.

Admittedly, China and the DPRK are also having a difficult time improving their economic integration, as the bilaterally managed two special economic zones in the DPRK's Rason, as well as Hwanggumpyong and Wihwa islands, have witnessed little progress since the agreement came into effect in 2010.