Kim Jong Un returns to Pyongyang after summit with Putin

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Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un returned home on Saturday after concluding his first visit to Russia, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

Kim was greeted by senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea, the report said.

During his visit to the Russian city of Vladivostok, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on bilateral issues and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

This trip marked Kim's first overseas trip after the breakdown of his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in February, which ended without a deal as they failed to find common ground over Pyongyang's denuclearization steps and Washington's sanctions relief.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 25, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Kim told Putin that peace and security on the Korean Peninsula will entirely depend on Washington's future attitude, the KCNA reported earlier.

Kim also blamed Washington's "unilateral" attitude for the breakdown of the Hanoi meeting and the current stalemate in denuclearization negotiations, it added.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Putin said Kim also wants denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula but his country needs security guarantees from the international community.

On Friday, Trump said he welcomed Russian and Chinese help with the DPRK nuclear negotiations. "I appreciate that Russia and China are helping us," Trump said at the White House.

"China is helping us because I think they want to. They don't need nuclear weapons right next to their country," Trump said.

"I think we're doing very well with North Korea (DPRK). A lot of progress is being made…I appreciated President Putin's statement yesterday. He wants to see it done also. I think there is a lot of excitement for getting a deal done with North Korea (DPRK)."

Trump has claimed that he and Kim have a special friendship, even after the breakdown of Hanoi talks. But just a week ago, Pyongyang demanded the removal of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from the stalled nuclear talks.

During his talks with Putin, Kim said Pyongyang is braced for all possible situations.

On Saturday, DPRK pressed Seoul to ignore pressure from the U.S. and move ahead with inter-Korean cooperation, Yonhap reported.

One year on, how was Panmunjom Declaration implemented?

DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country (CPRC) said the U.S. is putting pressure on Seoul and is attempting to force that inter-Korean ties to be subordinated to its policy of sanctions.

It also urged ROK President Moon Jae-in's government to explore "more active measures" to realize the sustainable development of inter-Korean ties and peaceful reunification.

The message came as the two sides commemorate the first anniversary of the historic Panmunjom summit amid doubts about the denuclearization process.

Kim and Moon held their first historical meeting in Panmunjom, the truce village on the border. They issued a joint declaration that listed goals aiming to improve the inter-Korean relations, ease military tension and establish a peaceful regime on the peninsula.

The two leaders also had two more summits in 2018, producing follow-up deals on reducing military tension and building mutual trust. Kim repeatedly expressed his commitment to the complete denuclearization during the meetings.

(Cover: DPRK leader Kim Jong Un returns home on April 27, 2019 after a Russia trip, in this photo released by its state news agency, KCNA. /Yonhap Photo)

(With inputs from Xinhua, Yonhap and AFP)