Mr. Kim Jong-il once revealed to Mr. Putin 'unique' information

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently revealed that the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il privately told him in the early 2000s about the existence of a nuclear bomb in the East Asian country.

According to TASS news agency (Russia), President Putin said on October 4: “In 2001, while on my way to visit Japan, I stopped in North Korea and met with the father of leader Kim Jong-un. At that time, Mr. Kim Jong-il told me that North Korea had a nuclear bomb. Moreover, Mr. Kim Jong-il believed that at that time, the capital of South Korea, Seoul, was within the range of North Korean weapons systems.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) during a meeting with late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Photo: TASS

“When was that? In 2001! Now it's 2017, North Korea is living under sanctions and instead of a nuclear bomb they now havethermonuclear bomb”, Mr. Putin added.

“However, a week later, a decision was made to freeze the North Korean bank accounts because someone felt that the agreement the DPRK had made was not enough and that Pyongyang should do more. But that is exactly what they agreed to. What was the reason for provoking them? The DPRK immediately withdrew from all agreements and began developing its nuclear program,” the Russian leader said.

President Putin affirmed that he has no right to judge US counterpart Donald Trump's strategy towards North Korea but all sides should tone down provocations and find a way for direct dialogue between the US and North Korea, as well as between North Korea and other countries in the region.

The Russian leader believes that using force to talk to North Korea only contributes to strengthening the regime of leader Kim Jong-un.

Asked whether Moscow was worried about Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, Putin replied: “We share a border with North Korea. A nuclear test site in North Korea is 200 kilometers from the Russian border. Where is the US, where is Russia and where is North Korea? We are just as worried as you are, and even more so.”

In addition, President Putin said that Russia has no economic and trade relations with North Korea. The 64-year-old leader stated: “Russia supplies about 40,000 tons of oil to North Korea, but there are no affiliated enterprises supplying any goods, only small companies, traders. There is nothing, almost nothing. There is no cooperation, no dialogue and discussion.”

President Putin said that finding a balanced solution through dialogue on the situation in North Korea is necessary and feasible while other options are "dangerous".

According to Kienthuc.net.vn