Vladimir Putin views his meeting with North Korea leader Kim Jong-un as a “photo opportunity” which could help “raise his domestic popularity”, claimed an analyst. Darya Dolzikova believes Mr Putin is “in trouble at home” and is attempting to “rally” the domestic population around him. Referring to Mr Putin, the Nuclear Proliferation and Policy Analyst told Sky News: “This is something that we have seen him do before. When he’s in trouble at home he tends to look outwards and try to find this outer ‘rally around the flag’ sort of situation. He’s done it with Ukraine and perhaps this is another kind of attempt for him to rally the domestic population around his attempts to engage with North Korea.
“And to show that he is doing great on foreign policy. So we have seen him do this before, this might be just another play at trying to perhaps raise his domestic popularity.”
Ms Dolzikova said earlier in the programme: “First and foremost this is a photo opportunity for Putin, for Kim as well.
“Putin is trying to stake out a role for himself in the negotiations for the denuclearisation of North Korea and for reducing the threat that North Korea poses to the international community.
“I think he is just trying to make a point that without Russia, without him at the table he cannot have a conversation.
“So I think that’s really what this is for him, is to show the role that Russia should play in this.”
Putin has held ”substantial discussions” with Mr Jong-un during the pairs historic first-ever meeting.
The Russian President was full of praise for the North Korean leader and “welcomed” his efforts to “normalise” its nuclear weapons programme, following a summit in Vladivostok, eastern Russia.
Mr Putin also sought to progress “bilateral relations” with Pyongyang and seek a solution to the ongoing rift between North Korea and the US.
The Russian leader said: “I’m sure your visit to Russia will also help to develop our bilateral relations and will help us to understand the ways we can help to settle the situation on the Korean Peninsula, what can be done together, what Russia can do to support the positive processes that are taking their place now.
“We welcome your efforts on developing inter-Korean dialogue and your efforts on normalising the US-North Korean relations. And of course, in terms of bilateral agenda, we need to achieve a lot to develop trade and economic ties and humanitarian ties.”
Mr Jong-un, who had arrived in Vladivostok a day earlier on board his armoured train, said the situation on the Korean peninsula “is an issue that the world is very interested in.”
Chairman Kim added he hoped for “a very useful meeting in developing the relationship between the two countries, who have a long friendship and history, into a more stable and sound one”.
He said: “I would like to offer again a sincere gratitude to Mr. President for making time in his busy schedule and come thousands of miles from the capital city of Moscow to here to give us time for a great conversation.
“We are visiting Russia this time to meet in person with President Putin and exchange our opinions. It is to exchange our mutual views on Korean Peninsula and this region’s political landscape which is a great focus of the world’s attention.”
He added: “It is also to work for stabilisation of this regions political landscape and to deeply share opinion on issues that pertains to jointly managing the political landscape in the future.
“Another purpose was to exchange opinions on the issues like growing and developing our two nation’s traditional relationship into one that is more solid and constructive according to the demand of the new century.”
The landmark summit follows two months on from a second meeting between Chairman Kim and US President Donald Trump.
However February’s talks in Hanoi broke down after the two world superpowers were unable to reach an agreement to lift sanctions in exchange for North Korea abandoning its nuclear and missile programs.