https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/18/europe/putin-kim-jong-un-meeting-intl/index.html
Putin and Kim Jong Un will meet in Russia later this month, Kremlin confirms
By Euan McKirdy, Jake Kwon and Sheena McKenzie, CNN
Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT) April 18, 2019
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(CNN)Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet in Russia later this month, the Kremlin announced Thursday.
The meeting between the Cold War allies comes at a delicate moment in the nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the United States, which have stalled since the last round of talks in Hanoi fell apart earlier this year.
The Kremlin did not provide any further details about the meeting between Kim and Putin, who are not believed to have ever met each other.
The announcement came just hours after North Korea's foreign ministry called for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to be replaced in any further negotiations between the two countries.
In a statement released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency earlier Thursday, foreign ministry official Kwon Jong Gun said Pompeo had been "letting loose reckless remarks and sophism of all kinds against us every day."
North Korea: If US wants to talk, put someone 'more mature' than Pompeo in charge
Kwon said Kim had taken a "principled stand" on the talks with the US in a recent speech to the North Korea's rubberstamp parliament.
"Everyone has a clear interpretation of his speech, which says that the US should change its way of calculation and come up with responsive measures before the end of this year," Kwon said.
Kwon complained that Pompeo had characterized Kim's speech as being about finishing "working level negotiation between (North Korea) and the US by the end of the year," an interpretation he said was "talking nonsense."
North Korea has been pushing for more sanctions relief in exchange for denuclearization, while the US has demanded greater evidence that the country is prepared to reduce its nuclear arsenal. The disagreement is believed to be the primary reason the Hanoi talks came to an abrupt end.
Kwon appeared to blame Pompeo for the collapse of those talks, saying that the summit "gives us a lesson that whenever Pompeo pokes his nose in, the talks go wrong without any results."
"Therefore, even in the case of possible resumption of the dialogue with the US, I wish our dialogue counterpart would be not Pompeo but other person who is more careful and mature in communicating with us."
North Korea 'tests tactical weapon'
Pyongyang's diatribe against Pompeo came on the heels of a state media report claiming that Kim Jong Un had inspected and directed a "new tactical guided weapons firing test."
The report, published Thursday morning local time (Wednesday evening ET) by KCNA, did not state exactly what kind of weapon was tested, nor its potential range.
However, the description provided by KCNA suggests that it does not represent a return to missile testing for the regime -- a tactical weapon is designed to be used on the battlefield, and is typically not a long-range armament.
North Korea tests 'tactical' weapon, report says
No missile launch was detected by US Northern Command and Strategic Command, according to US Department of Defense officials.
Kim praised the weapon's capabilities, KCNA reported.
"The development and completion of this weapons system will be a great historic event in strengthening the combat capability of the People's Army," he reportedly said.
Pyongyang last conducted a "tactical" weapons test in November 2018. A South Korean government source with military knowledge told CNN that weapon was likely a piece of long-range artillery "likely to be a multiple rocket launcher." At the time, South Korean Unification Ministry deputy spokeswoman Lee Eu-gene downplayed the significance of the 2018 event, saying Kim had been continuing his inspections in the military sector "intermittently."
CNN's Darran Simon, Zachary Cohen and Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.
Putin and Kim Jong Un will meet in Russia later this month, Kremlin confirms
By Euan McKirdy, Jake Kwon and Sheena McKenzie, CNN
Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT) April 18, 2019
Witness: We watched 'in silent shock' as Notre Dame burned
Corruption in Venezuela has created a cocaine super-highway to the US
(CNN)Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet in Russia later this month, the Kremlin announced Thursday.
The meeting between the Cold War allies comes at a delicate moment in the nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the United States, which have stalled since the last round of talks in Hanoi fell apart earlier this year.
The Kremlin did not provide any further details about the meeting between Kim and Putin, who are not believed to have ever met each other.
The announcement came just hours after North Korea's foreign ministry called for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to be replaced in any further negotiations between the two countries.
In a statement released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency earlier Thursday, foreign ministry official Kwon Jong Gun said Pompeo had been "letting loose reckless remarks and sophism of all kinds against us every day."
North Korea: If US wants to talk, put someone 'more mature' than Pompeo in charge
Kwon said Kim had taken a "principled stand" on the talks with the US in a recent speech to the North Korea's rubberstamp parliament.
"Everyone has a clear interpretation of his speech, which says that the US should change its way of calculation and come up with responsive measures before the end of this year," Kwon said.
Kwon complained that Pompeo had characterized Kim's speech as being about finishing "working level negotiation between (North Korea) and the US by the end of the year," an interpretation he said was "talking nonsense."
North Korea has been pushing for more sanctions relief in exchange for denuclearization, while the US has demanded greater evidence that the country is prepared to reduce its nuclear arsenal. The disagreement is believed to be the primary reason the Hanoi talks came to an abrupt end.
Kwon appeared to blame Pompeo for the collapse of those talks, saying that the summit "gives us a lesson that whenever Pompeo pokes his nose in, the talks go wrong without any results."
"Therefore, even in the case of possible resumption of the dialogue with the US, I wish our dialogue counterpart would be not Pompeo but other person who is more careful and mature in communicating with us."
North Korea 'tests tactical weapon'
Pyongyang's diatribe against Pompeo came on the heels of a state media report claiming that Kim Jong Un had inspected and directed a "new tactical guided weapons firing test."
The report, published Thursday morning local time (Wednesday evening ET) by KCNA, did not state exactly what kind of weapon was tested, nor its potential range.
However, the description provided by KCNA suggests that it does not represent a return to missile testing for the regime -- a tactical weapon is designed to be used on the battlefield, and is typically not a long-range armament.
North Korea tests 'tactical' weapon, report says
No missile launch was detected by US Northern Command and Strategic Command, according to US Department of Defense officials.
Kim praised the weapon's capabilities, KCNA reported.
"The development and completion of this weapons system will be a great historic event in strengthening the combat capability of the People's Army," he reportedly said.
Pyongyang last conducted a "tactical" weapons test in November 2018. A South Korean government source with military knowledge told CNN that weapon was likely a piece of long-range artillery "likely to be a multiple rocket launcher." At the time, South Korean Unification Ministry deputy spokeswoman Lee Eu-gene downplayed the significance of the 2018 event, saying Kim had been continuing his inspections in the military sector "intermittently."
CNN's Darran Simon, Zachary Cohen and Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.
- https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/moscow-eyes-global-role-with-putin-kim-summit
Moscow eyes global role with Putin-Kim summit
1 of 2
Russian President Vladimir Putin (above) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are expected to meet and discuss bilateral ties, denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and regional cooperation before the end of this month.PHOTOS: REUTERS
Published
Apr 20, 2019, 5:00 am SGT
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Russian leader is gearing up to play a bigger role in nuclear negotiations with N. Korea
MOSCOW • With Russian President Vladimir Putin set for his first talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this month, Moscow is eyeing a major role in yet another global flashpoint.
Mr Kim and US President Donald Trump held a historic meeting last June in Singapore, during which they both backed denuclearisation.
But a second round of talks in Hanoi in February ended in failure, and Pyongyang this week said it was testing weapons again.
Now, Mr Putin, who has long expressed his readiness to meet Mr Kim, is gearing up to play a bigger role in nuclear negotiations with Moscow's Cold War-era ally, with which it shares a short border.
Russia's main interest in the summit is to remind other players "that it exists and that it has economic and political potential" in the region, Professor Andrei Lankov at Seoul's Kookmin University said.
"Russia needs some sort of control over the situation on the Korean peninsula. Recent events have pushed out almost everyone apart from North Korea and the US, and of course nobody likes that," he said.
A MEASURE OF CONTROL
Russia needs some sort of control over the situation on the Korean peninsula. Recent events have pushed out almost everyone apart from North Korea and the US, and of course nobody likes that.
PROFESSOR ANDREI LANKOV, at Seoul's Kookmin University.
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Russia has been inviting Mr Kim for talks since last year, but he was unwilling to spend time and resources on the trip because Moscow was not a major player, said the professor of Korean studies.
But now, Mr Kim is looking for all the allies he can get "because (the second round of US talks) was a failure, and he was not able to achieve the things he was counting on".
Moscow has relatively good relations with Pyongyang, though these have deteriorated from Soviet-era highs.
Mr Putin has expressed tacit support for Pyongyang, saying last year that "it seems counterproductive if we demand everything from the North Korean side and in response they are given nothing".
The Kremlin lacks, however, the regional clout of Beijing - Pyongyang's sole major ally and biggest trading partner. China is intent on keeping North Korea within its sphere of influence.
Russia's role in any global negotiations will likely be as part of a group with China and North Korea itself, said Dr Konstantin Asmolov, a Korea specialist at the Moscow-based Institute of the Far East.
Russia's foreign policy focus remains on former Soviet states and the Middle East, particularly its backing for the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Dr Asmolov said.
Prof Lankov said it was futile to hope for any practical breakthroughs at the Putin-Kim summit.
"There will be declarations, promises, they will sign yet another declaration of intent to increase trade 10 times in five years, but after two years they will forget about it," he said.
The Putin-Kim summit is set to take place before the end of this month, the Kremlin announced on Thursday, without specifying a date or a location. It will be the first official meeting between the two leaders. The Kremlin said yesterday that Mr Putin and Mr Kim will discuss bilateral relations, denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and regional cooperation.
"The baggage for discussion is very extensive. Here we must still remember first of all that we are talking about negotiations of the heads of neighbouring states with an extensive joint border," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "There is no doubt that Russia will be ready to do everything to promote the process of denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula to the best of its abilities."
Mr Peskov said the non-disclosure of information about the place and exact date of the meeting between the two leaders is related to security concerns. But he said the meeting will take place in Russia.
Speculation has grown that the meeting could take place in the Russian city of Vladivostok, which lies not far from its land border with North Korea.
When asked if Russia and the United States contacted each other on the problems of the Korean peninsula, Mr Peskov said a "certain exchange of views is under way", but it was impossible to talk about some kind of close coordination on this issue.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, XINHUA
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 20, 2019, with the headline 'Moscow eyes global role with Putin-Kim summit'. Print Edition | Subscribe
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...mmit-moscow-eyes-role-in-north-korea-11460938
World With Kim-Putin summit, Moscow eyes role in North Korea
Putin, who has long expressed his readiness to meet with Kim, is gearing up to play a bigger role in nuclear negotiations with Moscow's Cold War-era ally, with which it shares a short border AFP/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Handout
19 Apr 2019 03:34PM
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MOSCOW: With Russia's Vladimir Putin set for his first talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this month, Moscow is eyeing a major role in yet another global flashpoint.
The situation on the Korean peninsula seemed to be stabilising after a historic meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump last year, at which they both backed de-nuclearisation.
But a second round of talks ended in failure and Pyongyang this week said it was testing weapons again.
Now Putin, who has long expressed his readiness to meet with Kim, is gearing up to play a bigger role in nuclear negotiations with Moscow's Cold War-era ally, with which it shares a short border.
Russia's main interest in the summit is to remind other players "that it exists and that it has economic and political potential" in the region, Andrei Lankov of Seoul's Kookmin University said.
"Russia needs some sort of control over the situation on the Korean peninsula. Recent events have pushed out almost everyone apart from North Korea and the US, and of course nobody likes that," he said.
Russia has been inviting Kim for talks since last year but he was unwilling to spend time and resources on the trip because Moscow was not a major player, Lankov said.
But now Kim is looking for all the allies he can get "because (the second round of US talks) were a failure, and he was not able to achieve the things he was counting on".
Moscow has relatively good relations with the reclusive regime, though these have deteriorated from Soviet-era highs.
Putin has expressed tacit support for Pyongyang, saying last year that "it seems counterproductive if we demand everything from the North Korean side and in response they are given nothing".
The US has accused Moscow, which provides some food aid to North Korea, of helping Pyongyang evade some international sanctions - a charge Moscow denies.
NO BREAKTHROUGHS EXPECTED
The Kremlin however lacks the regional clout of Beijing, Pyongyang's sole major ally and biggest trading partner.
China, intent on keeping Pyongyang within its sphere of influence, has played diplomatic wingman to North Korea - even loaning Kim an Air China jet to travel to his landmark first meeting with Trump in Singapore last year.
Russia's role in any global negotiations will likely be as part of a group with China and North Korea itself, Konstantin Asmolov, a Korea specialist at the Moscow-based Institute of the Far East, said.
Russia's foreign policy focus remains on former Soviet states and the Middle East, particularly its backing for the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Asmolov said.
Lankov, meanwhile, said it was futile to hope for any practical breakthroughs at the Putin-Kim summit.
"There will be declarations, promises, they will sign yet another declaration of intent to increase trade 10 times in five years, but after two years they will forget about it," he said.
The Kim-Putin summit is set take place before the end of April, the Kremlin announced Thursday, without specifying a date or a location.
International media reported that the summit was set for Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok, which lies not far from its short land border with North Korea.
There is also a chance that the talks will not take place at all: Kim pulled out of 2015 celebrations in Moscow for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II at the last minute.
The last meeting between a Russian and North Korean head of state came in 2011, when Kim's father Kim Jong Il travelled by train to Siberia for tightly guarded talks with then president Dmitry Medvedev at a military base.
Medvedev said he was "full of positive feelings" after Kim Jong Il said his state was prepared to renounce nuclear testing.
Source: AFP/na
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普京金正恩首次会面，为何选在这个时候？
2019-04-20 02:51
普京与金正恩将于4月底前举行会晤
图源：视觉中国
新华社北京4月19日电（新华社记者李奥 刘艳霞）俄罗斯克里姆林宫网站18日发表声明说，俄总统普京与朝鲜最高领导人金正恩将在今年4月底前举行会晤。
分析人士指出，这将是两位领导人的首次会晤，有助于巩固俄朝关系，协调两国在朝鲜半岛无核化和经济合作等多个领域的立场。在半岛局势因美朝无核化立场分歧而再现阴云之际，朝鲜也希望借此次会晤在半岛和平进程中掌握更多主动权，而俄罗斯则希望增强自身在半岛问题上的影响力。
朝鲜最高领导人金正恩（图/朝中社）
为何此时会面
俄方声明称，应普京邀请，金正恩将于4月下半月访俄。声明未透露此次会晤的时间、地点及具体内容等细节。
此前，俄总统助理乌沙科夫17日就透露，两国首脑会谈正处于“积极准备之中”，会谈地点可能是“任何地方”。俄罗斯现代国家发展研究所所长索洛尼科夫表示，有关金正恩访俄的讨论已经持续了一年多。
今日俄罗斯通讯社援引消息人士的话说，俄朝领导人可能将围绕通过政治外交手段解决朝核问题及加强双边经济合作等议题展开对话。俄《消息报》报道称，俄方在会面期间可能会表示愿通过联合国积极争取减轻对朝制裁，以回应朝方在缓解半岛紧张局势方面所采取的相关行动。
今年2月底美朝领导人在越南河内举行的会晤显示出双方对半岛无核化的定义和实现路径存在巨大分歧。中国社会科学院亚太与全球战略研究院副研究员王俊生表示，金正恩改善朝美关系、打破国际社会对朝制裁的预期目标未能实现，在此背景下，他选择在此时对俄罗斯进行首次访问，意在解决朝鲜经济发展遇到的困难，并争取俄方在国际上对朝鲜的支持。
俄罗斯总统普京（今日俄罗斯）
合作前景几何
分析人士指出，俄罗斯与朝鲜有着传统友好关系，朝鲜半岛安全形势也对俄罗斯国家安全有着重要影响。另一方面，为应对世界政治经济形势变化，俄罗斯近年来开始逐步实施转向东方的政策，尤其是通过多种方式加强与东北亚邻国的外交互动。而朝鲜可以成为俄与亚洲开展经济合作的桥梁之一。
与此同时，随着东北亚地区局势变化，朝鲜也基于自身考虑逐渐加强与俄罗斯在政治、军事、经济等领域的合作。吉林大学行政学院国际政治系教授王生认为，朝鲜与俄罗斯进一步深化双边关系，可以为朝鲜今后发展经济提供助力，并增加在未来朝美对话中的筹码。他同时指出，鉴于当前处于低谷的美俄关系的复杂性，朝俄关系发展如果把握不好尺度，也有可能对美朝关系产生负面影响。
王俊生认为，在联合国安理会对朝制裁的影响下，朝俄两国目前在实现高层互访和加强文化、体育、艺术等领域的合作上更具现实基础，而涉及经贸合作和基础设施建设等方面的合作还仅限于意向性层面，实现困难较大。（参与记者：于荣）
