JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: On his way to the G-8 summit, Russia's president has hinted at a new development in the international debate over ballistic missiles. CNN's Steve Harrigan reports on Vladimir Putin's landmark visit to North Korea.</s>STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russian President Vladimir Putin says North Korea is ready to give up its missile program.</s>VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): North Korean is prepared to exclusively use the rocket technology of other nations if they supply such an opportunity for the peaceful research of space.</s>HARRIGAN: The remarks came after a two-hour meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il on the first-ever visit by a Russian president to the isolated nation. Mr. Putin offered few details about how a program of shared technology would work or who would pay for it. The new Russian president has assured himself of an eager audience at his next stop, a summit with Western leaders in Japan.</s>ANDREI KOZYREV, FORMER RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: The country which could probably steward the North Koreans out of isolation, help them, if they are looking for getting out of isolation, that might be Russia.</s>HARRIGAN: The old Soviet Union supported communist North Korea for decades. The new Russia switched sides, ending a defense agreement with the North in 1995. Putin's trip has also focused world attention on the proposed U.S. national missile defense system, designed to meet any potential missile threat from North Korea and other so-called "nations of concern." Russia and China jointly condemned the U.S. plans earlier this week. Both countries said the proposed the national missile defense system could lead to a new arms race. That opposition could be bolstered by any assurances North Korea has no plans to develop long-range missiles. Steve Harrigan, CNN, Moscow.
Russian President Says North Korea Ready to Give up Missile Program