On Tuesday, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said that Putin and Kim would meet on April 25 in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. Ushakov noted that the talks would focus on a political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula. Earlier in the day, the Korean Central News Agency reported that the North Korean leader had already left for his visit to Russia. His armored train is expected to arrive in Vladivostok later on Wednesday.

According to the NHK broadcaster, the Russian government seeks to boost its role in the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula.

The Russian side has also reportedly notified the United States and China about its plans.

North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005. China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States took part in denuclearization talks with North Korea between 2003 and 2009 in what were referred to as the Six-Party Talks before Pyongyang ultimately withdrew from the negotiations.

The UN Security Council adopted a series of resolutions in an attempt to make North Korea abandon its nuclear aspirations and re-engage in a denuclearization dialogue.