In a historic visit to Russia, North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un held talks with President Vladimir Putin on a range of critical issues, including military matters, the Ukraine conflict, and potential Russian assistance to North Korea’s satellite program.
The meeting between the two leaders took place on Wednesday, September 13th, as reported by Reuters.
Kim Jong-un arrived in Russia on Tuesday morning via a personal train, and the following day, President Putin took him on a tour of the world’s most advanced space launch site, situated in the remote Russian Far East. During their discussions, there were questions directed at Kim about rockets and their capabilities.
Afterward, the leaders sat down for a several-hour-long discussion, addressing various global issues and exploring potential areas of cooperation. They also shared a working lunch, featuring items such as crab and mushrooms. During the luncheon, Kim remarked on Russia’s “victorious war” in the Western part of Ukraine. North Korea’s leader raised his glass and declared, “Russia’s armed forces, and the people of Russia, are bound to achieve a great victory in the great sacred war!”
The United States had expressed concerns about such a trip by Kim and claimed that Russia and North Korea were actively discussing arms deals. Washington also warned that any transfer of arms between the two countries would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Nevertheless, Moscow and Pyongyang have denied these allegations. Kim, during his visit, assured Putin of his “full and unconditional support” for all of Russia’s decisions. This statement followed the recent imposition of new sanctions against Russia by the United States in response to Moscow’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated in a briefing, “The United States is closely monitoring the discussions between Russia and North Korea and will enforce our sanctions rigorously. Any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia or vice versa would be a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. We will apply our sanctions accordingly, and we will not hesitate to impose further sanctions if necessary.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also signaled caution, emphasizing that any engagement involving arms transfers should be subject to scrutiny by the United Nations Security Council.
Despite these concerns, Kim’s visit to Russia and his discussions with Putin hint at the potential for shifts in regional dynamics and cooperation between the two nations in various spheres, including space exploration and military matters.
