In a significant development, talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have commenced, with the focus on a potential arms deal. Kim Jong Un embarked on a highly scrutinized two-day journey aboard an armored train to reach the Vostochny space center in Russia’s far east, just ahead of a ballistic missile launch by Pyongyang.
While both countries are under international sanctions, it is anticipated that they may strike a deal that involves exchanging weapons for humanitarian aid. This meeting is being closely monitored by the United States and its allies, despite official denials from Pyongyang and Moscow about their discussions involving military cooperation.
The White House recently revealed new information suggesting that negotiations between Russia and North Korea concerning a weapons deal were “actively advancing.” John Kirby, National Security Council spokesman, disclosed that Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had attempted to persuade Pyongyang to supply artillery ammunition during a recent visit to North Korea.
Analysts speculate that North Korea may also seek food aid and potential technology to support its prohibited nuclear and missile programs. However, the Kremlin has stated that the visit will encompass “bilateral relations, the situation in the region, and in the global arena.”
Kim Jong Un emphasized the “strategic importance” of the relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow during his visit, according to North Korean state media.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Russia would always act in its national interest, stating, “The interests of our two countries are important to us, and not warnings from Washington.”
This highly anticipated meeting was initially expected to take place in Vladivostok, where President Putin was hosting an economic forum. However, Kim Jong Un’s train veered past the city and headed north towards the Vostochny space center.
The Vostochny space center is considered Russia’s most advanced facility and a personal project of President Putin. North Korea might seek cooperation from Russia in its space program, as it recently faced a second failure in placing a spy satellite into orbit.
During his journey to the space center, Kim Jong Un made a brief stop at the Khasan border station, where he was greeted by a Russian delegation amidst the sounds of a brass band. Notably, his train is rumored to include at least 20 heavy bulletproof carriages, contributing to its relatively slow speed of approximately 37 mph (59 km/h).
This visit marks Kim Jong Un’s first foreign trip since his 2019 summit with President Putin in Vladivostok, which followed the breakdown of nuclear disarmament talks with then-US President Donald Trump.
