American officials quickly discovered a major snag in planning for the summit: summertime is peak tourist season in Alaska, and options both available and equipped to host the two world leaders were severely limited.

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the latter’s summit in Alaska this week. Putin, who will meet with President Donald Trump on Friday in Anchorage to discuss paths to peace,

Friday's Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "is a listening exercise for the president," the White House said on Tuesday, tempering expectations for a quick Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal.