In a significant diplomatic development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to visit Russia for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin confirmed this visit on Monday, stating that it was at Putin’s invitation and would occur “in the coming days.” North Korea’s KCNA state news agency also reported the official visit, noting that Kim would meet with Putin soon.
President Putin arrived in Vladivostok, Russia’s far eastern city, on Monday to attend the Eastern Economic Forum. It’s noteworthy that Vladivostok was the location of Putin’s initial meeting with Kim in 2019.
South Korean media had earlier reported, citing unnamed government sources, that Kim appeared to have departed on a special train bound for Russia for a summit with Putin, possibly as early as Tuesday.
Kim Jong Un’s foreign travels are infrequent and cloaked in secrecy and security measures. He typically travels by train, which includes armoured carriages equipped with communication systems and a personal suite for his work and discussions with aides.
The anticipated meeting between Kim and Putin is expected to focus on military cooperation, potentially involving arms deals. This development raises concerns from the United States about North Korea supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, which the U.S. has warned would carry consequences.
Ramon Pacheco Pardo, the Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance, suggests that North Korea’s support for Russia in this context could deepen the global division over the war in Ukraine.
North Korea possesses a significant arsenal of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs, which could bolster the Russian military.
In exchange, Kim might seek critical aid, such as energy and food, and advanced weaponry technologies, including those related to intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines, and military reconnaissance satellites.
However, concerns persist that potential technology transfers from Russia could enhance the threat posed by North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities, which target the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
Journalists near the North Korea-Russia border spotted a train resembling the one used by Kim during previous foreign trips at a station on the North Korean side. As of the latest reports, it had not crossed the bridge into Russian territory.
