The North Korean leader is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss arms supplies, as well as details of other military cooperation.
North Korea has remained silent over its leader Kim Jong Un’s expected visit by armored train to the Russian city of Vladivostok to attend the summit, even though he attended a photo op with participants celebrating the 75th anniversary of the country’s founding.
According to the Independent, Kim Jong-un’s expected participation in the Eastern Economic Forum comes at a time when Vladimir Putin is facing a depletion of military supplies and is looking to take advantage of North Korea’s support for munitions. This is an unexpected turn of events compared to the 1950s during the Korean War, when the Soviet Union supplied weapons to the North.
The North Korean leader is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss arms shipments, as well as details of other military cooperation.
This will be only the North Korean leader’s second visit to Russia. Kim Jong Un hopes to strengthen ties with Moscow, which has become increasingly isolated after the invasion of Ukraine.
“We know that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has been visiting lately mainly because of artillery shells, and most likely this will be discussed between Putin and Kim Jong-un,” said Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia and Eurasia Center.
However, the state-run Korean Central News Agency made no mention of Kim except for a photo shoot he attended. A North Korean spokesman said Kim praised people “who, on good days and bad days, put state affairs above family matters.”
While Russia sent a military song and dance ensemble to celebrate the DPRK’s anniversary, China sent a delegation led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong. The absence of government officials from Russia at the celebrations may indicate ongoing preparations for the meeting between Putin and Kim, South Korean media suggested.
The Kremlin also refused to comment on a possible deal under which North Korean weapons would be supplied to Russia. “North Korea is our neighbor, and we will further develop our relations without looking at the opinions of other countries,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Although both Pyongyang and Moscow deny allegations that they were in arms talks, the US said last week that talks moving so quickly over North Korea supplying weapons to Putin for use against Ukraine would be a mistake.
Meeting between Putin and Kim Jong-un
As UNIAN reported, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un plans to visit Russia and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the NYT, they will discuss the possibility of supplying Russia with weapons for its war against Ukraine and other military cooperation between the states.
Recently, the Russian leader’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, dodged the question of whether Putin and Kim Jong-un will meet in Vladivostok as part of the Eastern Economic Forum.
