North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for the first time as part of a summit held in Vladivostok, Russia. Much of the summit revolved around the denuclearization of North Korea, as well as the country's security needs. Kim Jong-un has requested a guarantee of security before following through with plans to disarm North Korea's nuclear arsenal.
Following stalled attempts to negotiate with President Donald Trump in Hanoi just two months ago, Kim Jong-un is likely seeking partial sanctions relief in exchange for gradual nuclear disarmament steps. Kim Jong-un is surely eager to recuperate North Korean economy struggling under the pressure of U.S. sanctions.
President Putin has suggested the resumption of the six party talks between South Korea, China, Japan, the United States and North Korea. The talks, which have been stalled for years, once addressed peaceful methods for disarming North Korea. Despite the friendly nature of the summit, no accords were signed after the talks.
