Welcoming Kim Jong-un At Russia's Space Launch Facility, President Putin: This Is Our New Cosmodrome

President Putin welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Source: Vladimir Smirnov / TASS)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while showing off Russia's new facilities, saying they would discuss Pyongyang's satellite program and other issues when they met on Wednesday.

"I am delighted to meet you," President Putin said while serving as leader Kim's hand while welcoming him at Vostochny Cosmodrome, a modern space launch facility in Russia's Amur region, Russia's Far East.

"This is our new cosmodrome," President Putin continued.

In response, leader Kim, speaking through an interpreter, thanked President Putin for his invitation and warm welcome.

Asked if the two leaders would talk about getting supplies of weapons from Pyongyang to Moscow, President putin said they would discuss "all issues".

Not without reason that Vostochny Cosmodrome was chosen to be the meeting place this time. The facility is a symbol of Russia's ambition as a space force. It's no coincidence that North Korea has failed to launch reconnaissance satellites twice in the last four months.

"That's why we came here," President Putin said, when asked by reporters if Russia would help North Korea build satellites.

"The DPRK leadership has shown great interest in rocket engineering. M

"Ereka is also trying to develop space," he said.

The meeting of the two leaders attracted global attention, as the United States and its allies suspected talks related to weapons would be Putin and Kim's main agenda.

Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two countries were cooperating in "sensitive" areas that would not be published, when asked if leaders would discuss weapons, according to the Interfax news agency.