Putin hails outcome of US-DPRK summit

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The situation on the Korean Peninsula is gradually improving, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, hailing the positive outcome of the US-DPRK summit.

Putin made the remarks during a joint news conference with visiting ROK President Moon Jae-in in Moscow.

Both leaders agree that the positive outcome of the US-DPRK summit will contribute to complete denuclearization and permanent peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the ROK's President Moon Jae-in at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, June 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

Moon said, "We have agreed to bolster communication and cooperation to bring peace and prosperity to the Korean Peninsula and the Eurasian continent."

"President Putin and I have agreed to launch business projects to prepare for potential trilateral cooperation involving South (ROK), North Korea (DPRK) and Russia,” he continued, adding, “Launching joint research on connecting railroads, electrical grid and natural gas lines will be a starting point."

In a joint statement, both presidents agreed that “large-scale infrastructure projects will contribute to Northeast Asia’s peace and prosperity.”

Moon hinted that the two leaders also discussed potential economic joint development that could be realized if sanctions on the DPRK barring foreign investments are lifted during their third summit.

Putin also invited Moon to an economic forum in Vladivostok in September, confirming his plans to host the leaders of both the DPRK and the ROK in Russia.

"We would be happy to see you as an honorary guest at the Vladivostok forum," Putin told Moon during a press conference after they held talks in Moscow.

The Russian leader has also invited the DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un to the event. On Friday, Russian media reported that Kim has not yet responded to the Kremlin's invitation.

"There has not been an answer yet," Putin's aide Yury Ushakov was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency.

Ahead of the press conference, Putin and Moon witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements in fields including rail transport, gas and medical education.

Russia has always supported normalization on the Korean Peninsula and intends to further its possible contributions to the settlement of all disputable issues around the situation, Putin said earlier during his talks with Moon.

This is the first state visit by an ROK president to Russia in 19 years.

During his three-day visit, Moon is also expected to watch the ROK's World Cup match against Mexico on Saturday in the city of Rostov-on-Don.

(With inputs from agencies, CGTN's Jessica King also contributed to the story.)