North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged support for Russia’s “sacred struggle” during a summit with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that the United States warned could lead to a deal to supply munitions for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
After touring the launch pads with Putin at a remote space base in Russia’s Far East, Kim expressed “full and unconditional support” and said Pyongyang will always support Moscow on the “anti-imperialist” front.
The leaders gathered at the Vostochny Cosmodrome for a summit that underscores how their interests are aligning in the face of their countries’ separate and intensifying confrontations with the United States.
North Korea may have tens of millions of old artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could give a big boost to the Russian military in Ukraine, analysts say.
But buying weapons or providing rocket technology to North Korea would violate international sanctions that Russia has supported in the past.
The decision to meet at the Cosmodrome, Russia’s most important launch center on its own soil, suggests Kim is seeking Russian help in developing military reconnaissance satellites, which he has described as crucial to raising the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles. .
In recent months, North Korea has repeatedly failed in its attempt to launch its first military spy satellite into orbit.
The two men shook hands and Putin said he was “very happy to see” Kim. Kim’s translator thanked Putin for the warm welcome, “despite being busy.” via REUTERS
The decision to meet at the Cosmodrome, Russia’s most important launch center on its own soil, suggests Kim is seeking Russian help in developing military reconnaissance satellites, which he has described as crucial to raising the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles. .
Putin greeted Kim’s limousine, brought from Pyongyang on the North Korean leader’s special armored train, at the entrance to the launch facility with a handshake that lasted about 40 seconds.
In his opening remarks, Putin welcomed Kim to Russia and said he was glad to see him, saying the talks would cover economic cooperation, humanitarian issues and the “situation in the region.”
Kim, in turn, expressed support for Moscow’s efforts to defend its interests, in an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine.
“Russia is waging a sacred struggle to defend its sovereignty, its security interests and its justice,” said the North Korean leader. “I take this opportunity to affirm that we will always stand with Russia on the anti-imperialist front.”
The two leaders will inspect the cosmodrome and then sit down for talks, Russian state media reported via REUTERS.
Kim’s personal train stopped at Khasan, a station on the border between Russia and North Korea, early Tuesday, where he was greeted by a military honor guard and a marching band. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images
Vladimir Putin shows the Vostochny Cosmodrome during Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia.via REUTERS
The two men began their meeting with a tour of a Soyuz-2 space rocket launch facility, where Kim peppered a Russian space official with questions about the rockets.
Kim and Putin then met with their delegations and then one on one, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
After the talks, the Russian president hosted an official lunch for Kim, Russian state media reported.
The meeting came hours after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea, extending a highly provocative series of North Korean weapons tests from early 2022, as Kim used the distraction caused by Putin’s war against Ukraine to accelerate his weapons development.
Kim said his decision to visit Russia four years after his previous visit showed how Pyongyang is “prioritizing the strategic importance” of its relations with Moscow, North Korea’s official news agency said on Wednesday.via REUTERS
Kim Jong Un meets with Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Alexander Kozlov at the Khasan train station ahead of the North Korean leader’s visit to Putin. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately say how far the North Korean missiles flew.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the missiles landed in waters outside the country’s exclusive economic zones and there were no reports of damage to ships or aircraft.
Official photos showed Kim was accompanied by Pak Thae Song, chairman of North Korea’s space science and technology committee, and the navy admiral.
Kim Myong Sik, who are linked to North Korea’s efforts to acquire spy satellites and nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry.
In his opening remarks, Putin welcomed Kim to Russia and said he was glad to see him, saying the talks would cover economic cooperation, humanitarian issues and the “situation in the region.” POOL/AFP via Getty Images
North Korea may have tens of millions of old artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could give a big boost to the Russian military in Ukraine.via REUTERS
Asked whether Russia would help North Korea build satellites, Russian state media quoted Putin as saying: “That’s why we came here. The DPRK leader shows great interest in rocket technology. They are also trying to develop space,” using the abbreviation of North Korea’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
When asked about military cooperation, Putin said, “We will talk about all issues without rushing. There’s time.”
Kim also brought Jo Chun Ryong, a ruling party official in charge of munitions policy, who accompanied him on recent visits to factories that produce artillery shells and missiles, according to South Korea.
Despite the recent frequency of North Korean missile fire, Wednesday’s launches on the eve of the summit came as a surprise.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Region on September 13, 2023. via REUTERS
South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said it was the first time North Korea launched a missile while Kim was traveling abroad.
Kim may have ordered the launches to make clear to Putin North Korea’s defensive posture and demonstrate that he maintains close control over the country’s military activities even abroad, said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst at the Korea Research Institute, with headquarters in Seoul. National Strategy.
Moon, a retired South Korean brigadier general who participated in past inter-Korean military talks, said the North’s launches may also have been intended to express its anger toward the United States, after State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a press conference that Putin met with “an international pariah to ask for help in a war.”
The United States has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia, including selling artillery shells to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Both Russian and North Korean officials denied such claims.
Kim also brought Jo Chun Ryong, a ruling party official in charge of munitions policy, who accompanied him on recent visits to factories that produce artillery shells and missiles, according to South Korea.via REUTERS
After touring the launch pads with Putin at a remote space base in Russia’s Far East, Kim expressed “full and unconditional support” and said Pyongyang will always support Moscow on the “anti-imperialist” front. via REUTERS
The meeting came hours after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea, extending a highly provocative series of North Korean weapons tests from early 2022, as Kim used the distraction caused by Putin’s war against Ukraine to accelerate his weapons development.Razvozhayev/ e2w
Speculation about military cooperation increased after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea in July.
Kim later toured its weapons factories, which experts said had the dual purpose of encouraging the modernization of North Korean weaponry and examining artillery and other supplies that could be exported to Russia.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn