North Korean state media revealed on August 13 that its leader Kim Jong-un had held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first time Pyongyang has publicly disclosed a phone call between its leader and the head of a foreign state.

The disclosure is seen as reaffirming the closeness between North Korea and Russia ahead of the U.S.–Russia summit to be held in Alaska on August 15 (local time). The two leaders are also believed to have discussed issues related to ending the war in Ukraine.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Rodong Sinmun, Kim and Putin “had a telephone conversation.” The KCNA reported that Kim “firmly pledged to fully support all measures taken by Russia.” The two leaders “exchanged opinions on issues of mutual interest” and “agreed to maintain closer contact,” the agency said. It is the first time North Korean media have reported a phone conversation, rather than a meeting or exchange of letters, between the supreme leader and a foreign head of state, which is seen as an attempt to showcase their close ties.

While North Korean media made no mention of the U.S.–Russia summit, the Kremlin said on the 12th that President Putin had “shared information about his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump” during his call with Kim. Putin also reached out to other friendly leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The upcoming U.S.–Russia summit, held without Ukraine’s participation, is expected to address a cease-fire or an end to the war in Ukraine, now in its third year and six months.

According to the Kremlin, Putin “highly appreciated the support provided by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the liberation of the Kursk region, as well as the courage, heroism, and self-sacrifice demonstrated by DPRK soldiers during the process.”

The Kremlin also said the two leaders “reaffirmed their commitment to further develop cooperative relations in all fields under the North Korea–Russia treaty” and “agreed to continue their personal contacts.”

It is believed that Putin explained his ideas on cease-fire or peace negotiations for the war in Ukraine during the call. Discussions may also have included the withdrawal of North Korean troops from the Russian front in Kursk and post-war reconstruction efforts.

North Korea has dispatched 14,000 troops to Russia and, in June, pledged to send an additional 6,000 engineers and construction workers.

The conversation also appears to signal Russia’s intent not to isolate North Korea. Some had speculated that Moscow might distance itself from Pyongyang after the war in order to improve relations with other countries. Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha Womans University, commented, “Trump-style diplomacy seeks to build a cooperation framework among major powers while excluding smaller states, and North Korea’s unease about drifting away from Russia is evident.”

The possibility that the two leaders discussed a North Korea–U.S. summit cannot be ruled out. Do Jin-ho, head of the Eurasia Center at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, suggested, “Given that Putin is currently Kim’s closest counterpart, he may have conveyed North Korea’s demands to the U.S. on Kim’s behalf.” Last month, on July 29, Kim Yo-jong, the North Korean leader’s powerful sister, indicated Pyongyang’s willingness to talk with the U.S. on the condition that Washington recognizes North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. The fact that both North Korean and Russian media reported the leaders would “continue contact” has fueled speculation that Kim’s visit to Russia was specifically discussed.