MOSCOW, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) needs security guarantees to denuclearize, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday after meeting with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.
"Denuclearization means to a certain extent the disarmament of the DPRK. Definitely, the DPRK needs guarantees of its security and the preservation of sovereignty," Putin said at a press conference.
He said that these guarantees should be based on international law, although it was too early to speak about how substantial these guarantees might be.
Primarily, the steps are needed to increase confidence among the parties involved, Putin said.
If the parties will keep "making one step forward and two backward," then the desired result will not be reached, he said.
But if the parties involved in the solution of the problems of the Korean Peninsula and its denuclearization move step by step, treating each other's interests with respect, it will be possible to reach the goal, Putin said.
He said Kim asked him to share the DPRK's position and some questions that Kim has with the leadership of the United States.
Kim has met U.S. President Donald Trump twice. They ended their latest summit in Vietnam's Hanoi on Feb. 28 without an agreement.
Putin also said that Russia and the United States share some common interests as both countries are interested in total denuclearization and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and lowering the threat of nuclear conflicts is one of their common priorities.
