Kim Yong Chol, center, former North Korean military intelligence chief and a close aid to leader Kim Jong Un, walks out of a building after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Photo / AP
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un complained of "US hegemonism" to Russia's visiting Foreign Minister yesterday, as one of his top lieutenants was in New York trying to pave the way for a summit with President Donald Trump.
Kim told Sergei Lavrov that he hopes to boost co-operation with Russia,
which has remained largely on the sidelines in recent months as Kim has reached out diplomatically to the United States as well as to South Korea and China.
"As we move to adjust to the political situation in the face of US hegemonism, I am willing to exchange detailed and in-depth opinions with your leadership and hope to do so moving forward," Kim told Lavrov.
His comments came as senior North Korean envoy Kim Yong Chol was in New York for talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the planned summit.
After his meeting with Kim Yong Chol, Pompeo said "real progress" has been made in the last three days toward setting the conditions needed for Trump and Kim Jong Un to have a successful summit in Singapore. Still, Pompeo said he doesn't yet know whether the meeting will proceed on the announced date of June 12 and that he believes North Korea's leaders are contemplating a different path forward that would allow their nation to more fully integrate into the international community.
