Kim-Putin meeting boosts peninsula peace process
The first-ever summit between Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, held in Vladivostok, Russia, is the latest of a series of diplomatic endeavors that Kim has conducted since last year, so far effectively, to counter the "maximum pressure" imposed by the United States.
Kim, speaking at their meeting on Thursday, said he hoped for in-depth discussions on ways to strategically promote stability and jointly manage the regional situation.
Kim has nothing to lose by getting Russia more closely involved in the process aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, not least, because it may help ease the economic hardship the DPRK is suffering, as Russia has always called for the easing of international sanctions on Pyongyang before the latter gives up its nuclear and missiles program.
