RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin and the top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un had their first meeting at Russia’s Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island in Vladivostok on Thursday.

In his opening remarks, Putin expressed confidence that Kim’s visit will help resolve the situation on the Korean Peninsula, adding that Moscow welcomes the DPRK’s efforts to develop inter-Korean dialogue and to normalize its relations with the United States.

Echoing Putin’s remarks, Kim expressed the hope that the meeting will contribute to the development of Russia-DRPK relations and facilitate the settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.

Putin and Kim Jong Un said they had substantial talks on bilateral ties and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

“We have just had very substantial tete-a-tete talks. We managed to discuss the history of our interstate relations, their current state and the prospects for the development of bilateral ties,” Putin said at the beginning of an expanded bilateral meeting.

He added that they also exchanged views on “what should be done so that this situation has good prospects for improvement.”

Kim said he and Putin had a fruitful discussion on “ways of peaceful settlement” of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, noting that it has become one of the most pressing issues on the international agenda.

He expressed hope that their negotiations will continue “in a useful and constructive way.”

Putin also said Thursday that there is no alternative to the peaceful solution of nuclear and other issues on the Korean Peninsula, following the meeting with Kim.

Russia, for its part, is ready to continue cooperation to reduce tensions on the peninsula, and to strengthen security in Northeast Asia as a whole, said Putin at a reception in honor of Kim.

Putin said he was convinced that with the active participation of the international community and all interested states, the goal of ensuring lasting peace, stability and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula can be achieved.

Kim arrived in Russia in his train Wednesday.

Putin and Kim’s meeting came at a time when tensions were growing between the DPRK and the United States.

Last week, the DPRK test-fired a new tactical guided weapon and requested Washington to exclude U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from future negotiations.

In response, Pompeo swept aside Pyongyang’s demand about replacing him with someone “more careful and mature” to deal with the talks.

(Xinhua)