Putin extends invite to Kim Jong Un for meeting in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly extended a meeting invitation to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. 

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Putin, said Monday that the Russian leader invited Kim to visit Russia last month and that the Kremlin is currently arranging details on how the meeting could take place, according to The Associated Press.

{mosads}Peskov’s statement about the meeting invitation comes after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited North Korea to discuss the country’s denuclearization, as well as a possible second summit between Kim and President Trump. 

Pompeo told South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday that the U.S. and North Korea continue to make progress toward denuclearization after meeting with Kim for a reported 3 1/2 hours. 

“As President Trump said, there are many steps along the way and we took one of them today,” Pompeo said, adding that he had a productive conversation with Kim. “It was another step forward. So this is, I think, a good outcome for all of us.”

He also said Kim had agreed to meet with Trump for a second summit and that it should happen as soon as possible, according to a statement from the South Korean leader’s office.

Moon said he expects Kim to travel to Russia, according to the AP. He also said that he expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit North Korea soon. 

Kim met with Trump for a historic summit in Singapore earlier this year. The meeting resulted in a vow from Kim that Pyongyang would denuclearize in exchange for sanctions relief from the U.S. 

Trump has repeatedly praised the progress both countries have made. However, it was reported in July that the president’s become privately frustrated by the lack of momentum on the prospect of denuclearization.