A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is being finalized for later this year, but the location and time frame are still under negotiation, according to the Kremlin.
“These issues are being discussed and as soon as we reach an agreement, we will say right away,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday. “Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the North Korean leader this year is on the agenda.”
The Russian state news agency TASS reported the news as observers noted the latest sign of how rapidly world leaders are scrambling to influence diplomacy now underway to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Last month, Mr. Putin extended a formal invitation to Mr. Kim as U.S.-North Korean talks over nuclear disarmament accelerated.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in his fourth visit to Pyongyang, met with Mr. Kim.
Mr. Pompeo later reported that progress had made on a host of issues, including setting up a second summit between Mr. Kim and President Trump.
On Monday, The Associated Press reported that the White House North Korea envoy was traveling to Russia, France and Belgium for talks with counterparts to prep for the second summit. Envoy Stephen Biegun, according to the State Department, was scheduled to hold “working level” meetings in Moscow, Paris and Brussels.
According to Interfax news agency, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov was set to meet Mr. Biegun in Moscow on Tuesday.
Mr. Biegun accompanied Mr. Pompeo to Pyongyang last month where details of the second Trump-Kim summit began to take shape.
Last week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he believed Mr. Kim would soon meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr. Putin.
Mr. Moon added that the possibility of a summit between Mr. Kim and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was also “open” and added that: “A new order is being created on the Korean peninsula.”
Mr. Kim and Mr. Xi have met three times in China this year as the two countries seek to repair relations frayed by tensions over the North’s nuclear activities and Beijing’s backing of United Nations sanctions against its Cold War-era ally.
The North Korean leader has yet to meet with Mr. Putin.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Dan Boylan can be reached at dboylan@washingtontimes.com.
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