Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Yonhap News. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un via telephone on the 12th (local time), the Kremlin announced.

The Kremlin stated that President Putin shared information regarding his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

President Putin is scheduled to hold a summit with President Trump in Alaska, USA, on the 15th to discuss, among other things, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. This meeting was confirmed following a rapid development after U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff's visit to Russia on the 6th.

President Putin has been informing leaders of allied nations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and leaders of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, about the content of his meeting with Special Envoy Witkoff, and recently contacted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with whom relations have recently developed into a "blood alliance."

According to the Kremlin, during the call on this day, President Putin and Kim Jong Un reaffirmed their commitment to further developing friendly, good-neighborly, and cooperative relations in all areas in accordance with the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and North Korea signed in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19 last year.

The Kremlin stated, "President Putin expressed his gratitude to Chairman Kim for the support provided by North Korea during the liberation of the border territory of Kursk, which was invaded by Ukraine, and for the courage, heroism, and dedication shown by the North Korean military."

President Putin congratulated Kim Jong Un on the upcoming 80th anniversary of Korea's Liberation Day on the 15th, and Kim Jong Un emphasized that North Korea remembers the role played by the Soviet Red Army in fighting against invaders, the Kremlin explained.

The Kremlin added that President Putin and Kim Jong Un agreed to continue their personal contacts. Speculation suggests that Kim Jong Un, who previously accepted President Putin's invitation to visit Russia, may make a return visit to Russia this year.

Yonhap News