NORTH KOREA, RUSSIA VOW TO REDUCE TENSIONS, STRENGTHEN SECURITY IN NORTHEAST ASIA (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un met on Russky Island, Vladivostok on April 25th.

Negotiations began with a conversation of the heads of two states in a “one-on-one” format, then consultations continued with the participation of members of delegations.

At the beginning of the one-on-one meeting, Putin said the following:

“Dear Mr. Chairman!

I am very pleased to see you in Russia. Our colleagues have long been working on this meeting.

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your election to the high office of the head of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I sent you the corresponding letter, but now I am pleased to personally congratulate you.

In this regard, I would like to say that last year we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. The founder of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea made his first visit to Moscow in 1949. And I remember my visit to your country.

Your father was one of the initiators of the signing of the fundamental treaty – the Treaty of Friendship between our countries. I am confident that your visit to Russia today will serve the development of bilateral relations and help us better understand how we can resolve the situation on the Korean Peninsula, what we can do together, what Russia can do to support those positive processes that are happening now.

We certainly welcome your efforts to develop inter-Korean dialogue and to normalize North Korean-American relations.

And of course, bilaterally, we have a lot to do to develop trade and economic ties, develop humanitarian contacts.”

Kim Jong Un, on his part said:

“I want to express my gratitude, dear Mr. President, for the fact that they kindly invited me and, despite the extraordinary undertaking, paid deep attention to the implementation of my visit and traveled thousands of kilometers to come here from Moscow and meet with me.

I would also like to personally congratulate you on the fact that last year the Russian people once again entrusted you with the leadership of the great Russia, and with the fact that you are successfully working to build a strong Russia.

As you noted, I also hope that our meeting with you, Mr. President, will be useful for strengthening and developing the traditionally friendly relations between the DPRK and Russia, which have deep roots.

I would also like to say that now the situation on the Korean Peninsula is of great interest to the entire world community, and I hope that our talks will be an important event in order to assess this situation together, exchange views on this situation and jointly resolve this issue. And I hope that we will have a meaningful exchange of views today.”

Following the one-on-one meeting, and just before the meeting of the delegations, Putin said that he and Kim spoke about the history of North Korea-Russia relations, about the prospects of them improving. They also spoke about the situation on the Korean Peninsula and what could be done to improve the situation.

Kim said that he was pleased to meet with Putin. He also said:

“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, and discuss methods for the peaceful resolution of this issue and exchange views on the development of our bilateral relations in accordance with the requirements of the new century.

Mr President, we have just had a very meaningful one-on-one exchange of views on issues of common interest on all current issues.”

He expressed his wish for the relations between the countries to continue in such a “positive and constructive way.”

The delegation meeting took about 3 and a half hours after which there was a reception.

During the reception, Vladimir Putin said that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula. The president also assured that Russia is ready to continue cooperation to reduce tensions on the peninsula and strengthen security in Northeast Asia as a whole.