North Korea's opening up continues: Lavrov meets Kim in Pyongyang

RT
Thu, 31 May 2018 08:25 UTC

© Russian Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov • North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already exchanged several firm handshakes with Kim Jong-un during his visit to Pyongyang on Thursday. Photos show the two engaged in pleasant diplomatic protocol.

In one of the photos, Lavrov has a relaxed, good-natured expression, while Kim apparently took a more formal approach to the photo-op. The Russian diplomat has travelled to the North Korean capital to hold talks with senior officials aimed at supporting intra-Korean negotiations and de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula.

Lavrov added a bit of suspense to his meeting with Kim when he presented him with a box, leaving bystanders guessing what's inside.

"You can lock secret things here," the top Russian diplomat said with a smile as he gave the North's leader a key to it.

During the meeting, Lavrov and North Korea's leader pledged to do their utmost to secure peace talks to ease the Korean knot. Next time, both may hold talks in Moscow, as Lavrov has invited Kim to pay a visit to Russia. "We'll be happy if you come visit," Lavrov said, with Kim in turn sending his best wishes to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Foreign Minister also caught up with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho. Lavrov stressed that the ultimate goal of Korean denuclearization cannot be reached as long as sanctions against Pyongyang are in place.

Comment: Russia is the parent in the room.

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"In regards to sanctions, it is absolutely obvious that starting the whole conversation about the solution of the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula, we proceed from the fact that it cannot be complete until the sanctions are abolished," Lavrov said following the talks.

Stressing that it is "impossible" to ensure denuclearization in one move, the Russian foreign minister urged North Korean and US diplomats to use the "art of diplomacy" to achieve the desired outcome step-by-step.

Lavrov said that Russia welcomes the results of recent intra-Korean negotiations and the thawing of relations between North Korea and the US, as the countries prepare to hold a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his counterpart, Kim Jong-un.

"We welcome those contacts which have been developing between North and South Korea, North Korea and the United States," Lavrov said. "We welcome the summits between Pyongyang and Seoul which have already taken place and the planned meetings at the highest level between the leadership of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the US."

Russia is prepared to support any "concrete agreements" that might result from negotiations in the UN, provided they "meet the interests of all parties involved, including the DPRK," Lavrov stated.

In the meantime, Moscow believes it should distance itself from the negotiation process and let North Korea conduct its own diplomacy with the United States.

"I don't think we should explore North Korea's talking points that it plans to bring to the negotiations with the US. Expert consultations are underway in preparation for the talks, and we don't feel like we are in a position to interfere with this process," the foreign minister said.