Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un meet for first ever summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia as they met for the first time. Shaking hands in front of the cameras, they then headed to talks at a university in Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok. TV coverage showed Kim arriving in a limousine before shaking hands with Putin. Putin smiled and gestured to Kim before they both walked inside the building. Putin then introduced Kim to Russian officials who shook his hand. Thursday's summit reflects Russia's effort to position itself as an essential player in the North Korean nuclear standoff. Kim's first trip to Russia comes about two months after his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he failed to secure an ease on economic sanctions against North Korea. Trump and Kim met in June 2018 - the first ever meeting between a U.S. president and the leader of North Korea - in an historic summit in which both leaders signalled a desire to improve relations. A second summit between the two, in Hanoi in February 2019, ended without agreement. Read more: North Korea sanctions explained Watch: Kim Jong Un greeted with bread and flowers as he arrives in Russia