Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and DPRK's leader Kim Jong-un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019. (ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO / POOL)

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un said on Thursday they had substantial talks on bilateral ties and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

We have just had very substantial tete-a-tete talks 

Vladimir Putin, Russian President 

"We have just had very substantial tete-a-tete talks. We managed to discuss the history of our interstate relations, their current state and the prospects for the development of bilateral ties," Putin said at the beginning of an expanded bilateral meeting.

He added that they also exchanged views on "what should be done so that this situation has good prospects for improvement."

READ MORE: DPRK's Kim gets warm welcome in Russia

Kim said he and Putin had a fruitful discussion on "ways of peaceful settlement" of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, noting that it has become one of the most pressing issues on the international agenda.

He expressed hope that their negotiations will continue "in a useful and constructive way."

He also congratulated the Russian leader on his re-election to another six-year term last year.

DPRK's leader Kim Jong-un (left) speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their talks in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019. (ALEXEI NIKOLSKY / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL PHOTO VIA AP)

Kim arrived in Russia in his train on Wednesday for his first meeting with Putin.

Putin and Kim's meeting came at a time when tensions were growing between the DPRK and the United States.

Kim said he and Putin had a fruitful discussion on "ways of peaceful settlement" of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue

Last week, the DPRK test-fired a new tactical guided weapon and requested Washington to exclude US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from future negotiations.

ALSO READ: DPRK's Kim arrives in Russia before summit with Putin

In response, Pompeo swept aside Pyongyang's demand about replacing him by someone "more careful and mature" to deal with the talks.  

Kim arrived in Vladivostok Wednesday aboard an armored train, telling Russian state television that he was hoping that his first visit to Russia would "successful and useful." He evoked his father's "great love for Russia" and said that he intends to strengthen ties between the two countries. The late Kim Jong-il made three trips to Russia, last time in 2011.

Ahead of the talks, Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said that Russia will seek to "consolidate the positive trends" stemming from Trump-Kim meetings. He noted that the Kremlin would try to help "create preconditions and a favorable atmosphere for reaching solid agreements on the problem of the Korean Peninsula."

(With agencies input)