Russian President Putin staged a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim as an intermediary. But Russia could do much more with a minor role in the nuclear dispute with North Korea.
One thing is clear: with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, two men have met who want to be seen on the big stage of world politics. Putin in the role of the mediator, who through conversations and diplomatic skill, can achieve things that others fail. Kim as one who lets himself be talked about, if one hits the right tone – and with which it is well worth talking about.
In fact, it was a successful staging. The adoption of the two after almost four-hour talks almost seemed like a bow to the flashlights of the surrounding journalists: satisfied faces, firm handshake, last, friendly words. Then Kim’s departure in his black sedan.
Putin acts as a mediator
But what follows after the meeting, that so many media have historically designated as historical and that the main actors themselves permanently in the light of the long tradition of Russian-North Korean relations moved?
It was striking that while Putin always emphasized Russia’s possible mediation role in the dispute over the North Korean nuclear program, it did not play its part. A Habitus á la „Trump and the US did not manage it, now we come and do it right“ did not exist. On the contrary. Again and again Putin spoke of the need for the US and North Korea to approach each other again.
He stressed that Russia and the US in terms of
Denuclearization of North Korea pursued the same goal and that he wanted to discuss the results of this meeting with the US leadership. As was the case with the Chinese leadership Putin went to after his meeting with Kim. As far as the short-term plans.
Revival of the six-party format
However, as a possible long-term solution to the nuclear dispute with North Korea, Russia is hovering for something greater, such as a revival of the six-party format. That would be a clever move – because Russia can do nothing about North Korea alone, Putin is quite clear. Especially not if he wants to shake the UN sanctions to move Kim to a concession.
In the six-party format, however, the US, China, Russia and North Korea would sit together at one table, along with Japan and South Korea. So Russia does not have to play the main role in order to be able to have a say in an internationally relevant issue. A secondary character, but could still contribute a decisive turn to the story. If his counterpart Kim plays so well in the future.
