President Moon Jae-in (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet for talks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7.

By Yoon Sojung

Photos = Cheong Wa Dae 

President Moon Jae-in and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first summit meeting on July 7 in Hamburg, Germany, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. 

The two presidents discussed various issues involving the Korean Peninsula, including North Korean nuclear weapons and measures to boost bilateral cooperation.

President Moon told the Russian leader that, “Facing a border with the Korean Peninsula, Russia is the most suitable partner for the peace and prosperity of Eurasia.” President Moon suggested to his Russian counterpart that the two countries work together toward a sustainable development of the strategic cooperation partnership that exists between the two countries. 

He also said that, “North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile provocations become serious threats to the peace of both Koreas and to the peace of the whole of Northeast Asia, as well." President Moon mentioned the need to add stricter sanctions and pressure from the international community in order to prevent further provocations from Pyongyang. 

President Moon Jae-in (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a summit meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7.

President Putin said, “The Republic of Korea is Russia’s fourth largest trade partner among countries in the Asian-Pacific region,” sympathizing with President Moon on the expansion of the Seoul-Moscow cooperation. 

Saying that the nuclear weapons issue on the Korean Peninsula was the most urgent matter, President Putin said that substantial and detailed approaches are needed to resolve North Korean issues. 

President Putin invited President Moon to be the guest of honor at the third Eastern Economic Forum that will take place in Vladivostok on Sept. 6 and 7 this year. President Moon willingly accepted the invitation. 

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