North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to travel to Russia and meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss, in part, arms sales to help the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, according to senior U.S. officials.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson did not reveal the exact schedule for the planned meeting on Monday, but Kim will likely travel to Russia by armored train.
“We have information that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” Watson said in a statement.
“We urge the DPRK to end its arms negotiations with Russia and fulfill the public commitments Pyongyang has made not to provide or sell weapons to Russia.”
Privately, officials believe the meeting could take place next week, according to the New York Times.
Kim rarely leaves the Hermit Kingdom, at least as far as the outside world knows, but in the past she has done so on an armored train.
Kim Jong Un pictured next to his armored train in 2019.TASS/Barcroft Images
The North Korean leader has given the green light to multiple missile tests this year that have irritated US national security officials. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images
In this case, he will likely head from Pyongyang, North Korea, to Vladivostok, Russia, the New York Times reported, citing officials who said he could also go to Moscow.
If Kim agrees to swap weapons, Putin could send him technology for nuclear-powered submarines and satellites, officials told the outlet.
The North Korean dictator inspects a major munitions factory on September 2, 2023 via REUTERS
Kim is also likely to seek food supplies for his famine-stricken nation.
Russia has been actively courting its allies as it faces the barrel of intense sanctions from the West and a relentless war with its neighbor, Ukraine.
North Korea is quite familiar with Western sanctions.
US officials say Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly isolated on the world stage.MIKHAEL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Last month, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu traveled to North Korea to encourage Pyongyang to sell munitions to Moscow.
“Russia has been forced to turn to rogue regimes to try to obtain weapons and equipment to support its military operations. That’s in part because of the extensive sanctions and export controls we’ve imposed,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said at a news conference last week.
“One such regime is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
Another is China, Russia’s neighbor that has helped the Kremlin overcome the international consequences of the bloody conflict.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has welcomed warm ties with Russia and North Korea.CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Shutterstock
Recently, a South Korean lawmaker revealed that intelligence indicated Russia was likely floating having coordinated naval exercises alongside China and North Korea.
South Korean lawmaker Yoo Sang-bum was tipped off Monday by the country’s spy agency, according to the Associated Press.
Russia’s ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, recently reflected that such joint exercises “seem appropriate,” according to the report.
North Korea fires a strategic cruise missile in this undated photo. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images
Next week, President Biden will attend the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, India, from September 7-10.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to skip the diplomatic event amid friction with India and instead send Premier Li Qiang.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn