The much-anticipated meeting of the two leaders has drawn huge media attention. About 300 accredited journalists flooded the venue, the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) campus, to cover the historic summit. The two leaders shook hands in front of the building before proceeding inside for a greeting ceremony with accompanying officials and sitting down for a chat.
Kim's armored train arrived on Wednesday, a day before Putin flew in from the Siberian city of Chita.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the first one-on-one meeting between Kim and Putin would last no longer than an hour and would be followed by consultations featuring officials from both countries.
The main topic on the agenda will be the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, an issue that has been a bone of contention between Washington and Pyongyang, with the latest Trump-Kim summit in February in Hanoi falling apart without a breakthrough.
Among other items on the table are bilateral relations between Russia and North Korea, including their political, economic, and humanitarian aspects.
Kim’s late father, Kim Jong-il, visited Russia in 2011, shortly before the current leader of North Korea took over.
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