Vladivostok: Russian President Vladmir Putin and North Korea Kim Jong un will be holding a first ever vis-à-vis forum in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on Thursday.
Both the countries will be holding the dialogue to counter the US influence. The forum comes with Kim locked in a nuclear stand-off with Washington and Putin keen to put Moscow forward as a player in another global flashpoint.
Prior the forum, both the leaders gave a brief statement that they were looking to strengthen historic ties that date back to the Soviet Union's support for the founder of North Korea, Kim's grandfather Kim II Sung.
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Admiring the two countries ‘long friendship and history’, Kim John said that he anticipates to turn the modern relationship with Moscow into a ‘more stable and sound one’.
He also added, “"As the world is focused on the Korean peninsula, I think we will hold a very meaningful dialogue.”
Russian President on the other hand said, the visit would improve the bilateral ties and help Moscow understand "what Russia can do to support the positive processes that are currently taking place" in the peninsula.
Kim Jong meeting with US President Donald Trump has already broke down during Hinoi summit, without a deal on North Korea's nuclear arsenal in February.