Russia does not want a nuclear disaster next door, but its interest in the disarmament of North Korea is limited.
The Kremlin tried hard to present Kim Jong Un’s first ever visit to Russia as an historic event aimed at proving how important Moscow is in the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula – especially after the failure of US-North Korean talks in Hanoi two months ago.
Kremlin-controlled media described in great detail how Kim’s armoured train arrived in the Pacific port of Vladivostok on Wednesday, how Russian officials welcomed him with traditional round bread and salt, what theatres, museums and landmarks the moonfaced autocrat will visit during
his three-day visit.
“We are very much willing to take the Korean-Russian ties to a new, higher level,” Kim said during a reception after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that lasted for more than three hours on Thursday.
“Everyone is happy with the outcome of the talks,” Putin added – and toasted to “strengthening the friendship and cooperation” between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Kim highlighted the importance of the relationship and said ties have strengthened, while both nations had overcome “every hardship thrown to them by history”.
