Putin Praises Trump's Final Decision to Meet North Korean Leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the final decision of his American counterpart to meet and discuss with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as "brave and wise." In an interview with "China Central Television" on June 5, Putin stated, "I still hope that this meeting [between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un], which was a brave and wise decision by President Trump... will take place, and we all expect a positive outcome." Moscow, alongside Beijing, is considered a major political and economic supporter of Pyongyang. Sergey Lavrov, Mr. Putin's foreign minister, also met with the North Korean leader on June 1 and stated that his country "welcomes North Korea's contacts with South Korea as well as contacts with the United States." The historic meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un, the first of its kind at this level between the two countries since the Korean War (1950-53), is scheduled to take place on the morning of June 12 in Singapore. This meeting was canceled once after remarks from American officials regarding pursuing the "Libya option" concerning North Korea, which led senior North Korean officials to protest. The proposed option means the complete denuclearization of Pyongyang followed by the lifting of sanctions. After North Korea's protests, Donald Trump canceled the meeting, although he expressed hope that negotiations would eventually take place. It is reported that one of the contentious issues between the parties is the method of potential nuclear disarmament and security guarantees. While Washington demands complete and irreversible disarmament from North Korea before lifting sanctions, some statements from Pyongyang officials indicate they are seeking a step-by-step process where each action is reciprocated by the other side. North Korea is also said to be seeking adequate security guarantees for its central government. After the initial meeting was canceled, with South Korea's mediation, negotiations between American and North Korean officials and diplomats, as well as a visit from a senior advisor to Kim Jong-un to Washington, ultimately revived the previously scheduled meeting at the same time and place. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, also invited Kim Jong-un to visit Russia and participate in the "Eastern Economic Forum" to be held in Vladivostok in September. Mr. Putin will also participate in the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization" summit in China at the end of this week, which will host Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran.