Russian, North Korean leaders meet in Vladivostok

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin had "a substantive conversation" with North Korean chairman Kim Jong Un ahead of the talks, the Kremlin said Thursday.

Greeting Kim Jong Un on Russky Island in the port city of Vladivostok, Putin recalled that Russia and North Korea marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2018.

Putin said he is expected to discuss the settlement on the Korean Peninsula at the meeting as well as the development of the trade relations between the two countries.

"We welcome your efforts to develop inter-Korean dialogue and to normalize North Korean-U.S. relations," Putin said.

The two leaders also congratulated each other with re-election.

"I came to Russia to exchange views on the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, which is one of the most pressing issues on the current international agenda, as well as to discuss methods of peaceful settlement of this issue and exchange views on the development of our bilateral relations in accordance with the requirements of the new century," Kim said.

This is the first visit of North Korean leader to Russia since 2011. It is also the first meeting of Putin and Kim.