Putin Says He's Willing to Tell Trump What Kim Said

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un say they have had "fruitful" talks about how to defuse a standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear program. The two leaders spoke after their one-on-one meeting Thursday as they sat down for broader negotiations involving top officials from both sides on Russky Island near Vladivostok, the AP reports. Putin said he and Kim "exchanged opinions about what should be done to improve the situation." Kim noted that they had "discussed ways of peaceful settlement" and had "a very fruitful exchange."

Putin said after the summit that the North Korean leader is ready to proceed toward denuclearization—but needs solid security guarantees to do so. He did not, however, specify what those guarantees would look like. "Above all, he focuses on protecting national interests and security," Putin said. Putin said that he will be willing to share details of the summit with Trump, adding that "there are no secrets." He noted that Kim himself encouraged Putin to explain certain nuances of Pyongyang's position to Trump. Kim's first trip to Russia comes about two months after his second summit with President Trump failed because of disputes over US-led sanctions on the North. (More North Korea stories.)