Vladimir Putin congratulates Kim Jong–un on winning election despite there being no other candidates as they meet for first time

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin today congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his recent sham election victory as they met for the first time. 

The leaders shook hands warmly as they stood face-to-face to kick off nuclear talks in the Russian city of Vladivostok.

The pair were all smiles as Kim was greeted by Putin on the steps of the Far Eastern State University on Russky Island near the city after arriving by limousine.

Putin greeted Kim by congratulating the North Korean leader on winning a recent election - even though his name was the only one on the ballot paper.

Kim responded by also congratulating the Russian president on his successful victory last year, despite widespread reports of election rigging. 

The face-to-face meetings went for two hours - an hour longer than expected.

Before the discussions, host Putin told tyrant Kim he hoped their meeting would pave the way to "settle the settlement" on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea has technically been at war with South Korea since 1950 - and a heavily militarised border exists between the two countries.

Putin said that he welcomed Kim's efforts to "normalise" relations with the US - and said there is lots to do to develop trade ties between Russia and North Korea.

He added: "I'm sure your visit to Russia will also help to develop our bilateral relations and will help us to understand the ways we can help to settle the situation on the Korean Peninsula, what can be done together, what Russia can do to support the positive processes that are taking their place now.

"We welcome your efforts on developing inter-Korean dialogue and your efforts on normalising the US-North Korean relations. And of course, in terms of bilateral agenda, we need to achieve a lot to develop trade and economic ties and humanitarian ties."

I'm sure your visit to Russia will also help to develop our bilateral relations and will help us to understand the ways we can help to settle the situation on the Korean Peninsula

Vladimir Putin

Ahead of the second session, Kim said his visit to Russia was "a great joy".

He added: "We are visiting Russia this time to meet in person with President Putin and exchange our opinions. It is to exchange our mutual views on Korean Peninsula and this region’s political landscape which is a great focus of the world’s attention."

Kim also said he had come to visit Putin personally to exchange views on the current nuclear stand off.

While sitting opposite Putin and the Russian delegation he said he wanted to "discuss issues of strategic stability and joint management of the situation in the future, and to develop our traditional relations to meet the demands of a new century."

The second session ended after more than three, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Kim's first trip to Russia comes two months after his second summit with US President Donald Trump.

Those talks failed because of disputes over US-led sanctions on the North.

The summit in Vladivostok - in the remote far-east of Russia - reflects Moscow's effort to position itself as an essential player in the North Korean nuclear standoff.

The meeting will be followed by broader talks involving officials from both sides.

HOPES FOR SUCCESS

Kim arrived Wednesday in Vladivostok on his armoured train - saying upon arrival that he's hoping for a "successful and useful" visit.

It is Kim's first visit to Russia as North Korean leader.

His late father, Kim Jong Il, visited Russia in 2011.

The North Korean leader told of his father's "great love for Russia" - and said that he intends to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Kim wants the US to ease crippling economic sanctions as reward for some partial disarmament steps he took last year.

But Washington maintains the sanctions will stay in place until North Korea makes more significant moves to scrap its nuclear arsenal.

Some experts say Kim could try to bolster his country's ties with Russia and China.