Denuclearization, sanctions and cooperation: what Putin and Kim Jong-un talked about at the talks in Vladivostok

On Thursday, April 25, a series of events took place in Vladivostok with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who first arrived in Russia. The focus of the heads of state was on issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as topical international problems - primarily the settlement of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and its denuclearization.

For two hours, the leaders of the two countries talked face-to-face, after which negotiations continued in an expanded format with the participation of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev, Transport Minister Yevgeny Dietrich and other politicians and diplomats.

Summing up the talks, the Russian leader said that they were constructive and businesslike, in a traditional friendly atmosphere for Moscow and Pyongyang. According to him, despite the difficult international situation, in recent months, the situation around the Korean Peninsula has stabilized - largely due to the initiatives of the DPRK leader.

“Russia seeks to actively assist in advancing along the path of a political-diplomatic settlement. We welcome the steps taken by the DPRK leadership aimed at establishing a direct dialogue with the United States and normalizing relations between North and South Korea. We presume that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of nuclear and other problems in the region, ”Putin stressed.

He noted that for its part, Moscow is ready to continue cooperation to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula and strengthen security in Northeast Asia as a whole. The President added that lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region can be achieved with the active participation of all interested countries.

In turn, the chairman of the DPRK State Council called Russia “a friendly great neighbor” and thanked the Russian leader for the constructive and useful nature of the past negotiations. He noted the commitment to building friendly relations with Moscow and announced his intention to give impetus to the further development of bilateral relations.

“The continuous development of Korean-Russian relations is not only fully in the common interest, but also essential for ensuring peace and security in the region,” Kim Jong-un emphasized.

In conclusion of the official program, the leaders of the two countries exchanged gifts: Kim Jong-un presented Putin with a traditional Korean sword, and the Russian president presented the head of North Korea with a checker and a set of glasses with cupholders. Moreover, the leaders also exchanged coins, since the giving of cold weapons in many countries is considered a bad omen.

“To restore the force of international law”

At a press conference following the talks, Vladimir Putin called Kim Jong-un a fairly open person, an interesting conversationalist who leads a free discussion on both bilateral issues and more sensitive topics, including sanctions, relations with the United States and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking about resolving the situation in the region, the Russian leader stressed the need to restore the rule of law: “It is necessary to restore the force of international law, to return to a situation where international law, and not fist law, determines the situation, the situation in the world.”

He stressed that North Korea is ready for denuclearization and disarmament, however, Pyongyang needs guarantees of its own security and preservation of the country's sovereignty, and such guarantees lie in the sphere of international law.

“If we act this way: a step forward, two steps back, we will not achieve the desired result. And if we move gradually, respecting each other’s interests (in this case, I mean all the parties involved in solving the North Korean problem or denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula), then this goal can be achieved in the end, ”Putin said.

The Russian leader noted that the results of negotiations with the DPRK leadership will be openly discussed with both Beijing and Washington. Moreover, Kim Jong-un asked to inform the American side about his position and the issues that arise in connection with the processes occurring on the peninsula.

“As for reducing the threat of nuclear conflicts, this is certainly our common priority. But I got the impression that the North Korean leader adheres to the same point of view. They need only guarantees of their security, that's all, ”Putin added.

The president also said that the meeting raised questions about the possible implementation of a number of infrastructure projects, which were discussed under Kim Jong Il, but were frozen. We are talking about the organization of a direct railway connection between the south of the Korean Peninsula and the north of Russia with access to the Trans-Siberian Railway, the laying of oil and gas pipelines, the construction of power lines. And at the end of December, the railways of the North and the South docked, however, for several reasons, the first trains have not yet been able to get rid of them even in test mode.

“There is probably a lack of sovereignty in making final decisions, there are some allied obligations of the Republic of Korea to the United States, and at some point everything stops ... We will work calmly, hard and patiently on this. Hope we can do it sometime. And the sooner we do this, the better, ”Putin said.

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“Russia can greatly influence the future of the Korean Peninsula”

The authorities of a number of countries in Northeast Asia have already responded to the negotiations in Vladivostok. For example, Foreign Ministry spokesman Gen Shuang said that in Beijing they are happy to see how two friendly neighbors of China are strengthening their relations at a high level.

In turn, South Korean President Moon Jae Ying expressed the hope that the summit would "make a constructive contribution to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of perpetual peace."

On April 25, the South Korean leader met with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev. According to Mun Zhe Ina, he expects that the talks between the leaders of North Korea and Russia will serve as the basis for resuming the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, as well as speeding up the process of denuclearization.

According to Dmitry Solonnikov, director of the Institute of Contemporary State Development, it is extremely important that the negotiations were actually held at the opening of the “One Belt - One Way” forum in Beijing, because the topic was about creating transport and logistics routes between the Korean Peninsula and Russia with further access to Europe will also be discussed in China.

“It is important that Russia has demonstrated its role in this context. Summit is extremely important. In addition, it is important separately for North Korea, separately for political dialogue, it is important as part of Russia's global projection in the new world, ”the expert emphasized.

At the same time, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies and Forecasts of the PFU Nikita Danyuk noted that Kim Jong Ynu needed to meet with Vladimir Putin, since Russia has been an important participant and guarantor of the DPRK nuclear program for a long time.

“As for the results, it was necessary to simply“ check the clock ”, to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation, including economic and energy. We have plans to expand our cooperation in the context of the transport and logistics infrastructure. And, of course, the issues of the process of denuclearization, at least, attempts to provide from our side certain guarantees to North Korea, that if it takes certain steps, it will be possible to speak already about the lifting of international sanctions, ”said Daniuk.

The interviewee RT drew attention to the fact that the case of the DPRK is unique because the sanctions imposed on Pyongyang were adopted at the UN level with the direct participation of Russia and China. And in this regard, North Korea is interested in creating the image of a predictable neighbor.

“This kind of visit and meeting with our leader suggests that Pyongyang takes our country very seriously. And in this regard, our country can in a positive sense very strongly influence the future of the Korean Peninsula and extinguish this point of instability, ”the expert concluded.