Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would require “security guarantees” in order to abandon his nuclear program, following the first ever summit between the two leaders.
Putin and Kim promised to forge stronger ties during a two-hour meeting in the Russian city of Vladivostok, where the Russian president also offered to help break the deadlock over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
With champagne toasts and performances of Russian folk dances, the meetings seemed deliberately planned to project an image of friendship between the two countries at a time when North Korea’s talks with the United States have stalled.
“We have just had quite a substantive discussion, one on one,” Putin said in remarks following the talks. “We were able to discuss both the history of our relations. We also spoke about the present day and prospects for developing bilateral ties. Of course, we discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula as well.”
Kim, who arrived in Russia on Wednesday by armoured train, called the talks “very meaningful”.
The leaders did not immediately announce any agreements and analysts cautioned that Russia could only offer modest diplomatic and economic support to North Korea . But the friendly tone contrasted with that of the failed summit between Kim and the US president, Donald Trump, in February.
Trump and Kim’s second summit in Hanoi ended without agreement and differing explanations for their failure to make progress on denuclearising the Korean peninsula.
North Korea sees Russia as a potential ally in its negotiations with the US and as a potential source of support for its sanctions-battered economy.
Kim is expected to remain in Russia for another day, possibly visiting the Russian Pacific Fleet’s museum and a local theatre.
Putin and Kim greeted each other warmly on Thursday, shaking hands before beginning two days of highly anticipated talks on the island campus of Russia’s Far Eastern University. The two leaders also exchanged gifts: Kim gave a golden sword, while Putin gave Kim a sabre and a tea service suitable for use on his armoured train.
The two later dined on a dinner that included borscht and reindeer dumplings, as well as two types of wine.
TV coverage showed Kim arriving in a limousine before being met by Putin, who smiled and gestured to him before they both walked inside.
Putin told Kim that Russia supported his efforts to normalise North Korea’s relations with the US, adding that he hoped this week’s talks would help clarify Russia’s potential role in reviving stalled negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.
But Putin also appeared eager not to step on the toes of North Korea’s main ally, China, or to make it seem as though he and Kim would forge new policy on their own. He said he would be discussing the talks with Chinese leaders during a visit to Beijing for the Belt and Road forum, and also with the United States.
“We will also discuss today’s meeting frankly and openly with the American leadership. Russia is always transparent, there are no conspiracies,” Putin said at a press-conference in Vladivostok.
Kim earlier struck an upbeat tone and praised the Russian president when his train crossed the border at Khasan on Wednesday, saying: “I have heard a lot of good things about your country and wanted to visit it for a long time. Seven years have passed since I took charge of the country, but I did not have a chance to visit Russia until now.”
Kim was greeted at Vladivostok by a military orchestra, with white-gloved attendants running alongside his armoured train to wipe the dust from any surfaces that he might touch exiting the carriage.
Russia opposes the west’s sanctions-led approach but, like China, wants to see North Korea roll back its nuclear programme. Putin was expected to propose modest financial support, because Russia will not openly flout the economic sanctions and sees North Korea as a questionable investment.
They were also expected to discuss the fate of about 10,000 North Korean labourers working in Russia who are due to leave by the end of this year under sanctions.
Labour is one of North Korea’s key exports and sources of hard currency. Pyongyang has reportedly asked Russia to continue to employ its workers after the deadline. Kim, whose government has told the UN it is facing food shortages this year, could also seek a boost in aid from Moscow, which has provided $25m in food aid to North Korea in recent years, according to the Kremlin.
Putin on Thursday said that the two sides had discussed the labour issue but did not indicate they had come to any deal. “There are various options,” Putin said, concerning the foreign labour workers. “There are also humanitarian issues and matters pertaining to the observation of rights of such people.”
His remarks seemed mainly aimed at reducing tensions. “There are calm, non-confrontational solutions.”
Russia’s trade with North Korea is minuscule at just $34m last year, mostly because of the international sanctions against Pyongyang.
Russia would like to gain broader access to North Korea’s mineral resources, including rare metals. Pyongyang, for its part, covets Russia’s electricity supplies and wants investment to modernise its dilapidated Soviet-built industrial plants, railways and other infrastructure.
Kim’s journey by rail echoed one made by his father, Kim Jong-il, who met Putin in Vladivostok in 2002 and once completed a 12,000-mile round-trip to Moscow on the same train.
Putin, meanwhile, travelled to North Korea just months into his presidency in 2000, becoming the first Russian leader to visit the state.
Associated Press contributed to this report