2024 | North Korea’s Kim Hails Russia Ties As Putin Reportedly Plans A Visit

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Putin praised the country’s growing ties with Russia on Wednesday, as reports indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin would soon visit the country for his third summit with Kim.

North Korea and Russia’s military, economic, and other cooperation has risen dramatically since Kim visited Russia last September for a meeting with President Putin. The United States, South Korea, and other partners think North Korea provided Russia with artillery, missiles, and other conventional weapons in exchange for sophisticated military technologies and economic aid.

Putin | AP News Image

North Korea’s Kim Hails Russia Ties As Putin Reportedly Plans A Visit

Kim has been striving for stronger partnerships with Russia and China to strengthen his regional position and form a united front against the United States.

During their September meeting at Russia’s primary space launch facility, Kim offered Vladimir a visit to North Korea at “a convenient time,” which Putin agreed to.

According to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency, Kim sent Vladimir a message on Wednesday thanking Russia on National Day.

“Thanks to the significant meeting between us at the Vostochney Spaceport in September last year, (North Korea)-Russia friendly and cooperative relations developed into an unbreakable relationship of comrades-in-arms,” Kim wrote in his message.

Kim’s remarks came as media sources stated that Vladimir is set to visit North Korea as early as next week. If realized, it would be their third summit conference. Their first summit took place in Vladivostok in April 2019.

Putin | AP News Image

North Korea’s Kim Hails Russia Ties As Putin Reportedly Plans A Visit

NHK, citing unidentified diplomatic sources, including high-ranking Russian officials, said Wednesday that Vladimir plans a trip to North Korea and Vietnam next week.

According to NHK, he anticipated to seek greater military relations with North Korea as Russia confronts a weapons deficit in its battle with Ukraine, while North Korea is thought to want assistance with space technology following its recent failure to launch a second spy satellite into orbit in late May.

Russian business daily Vedomosti, which cited an unidentified diplomatic source, reports that Putin will visit North Korea and Vietnam “in the coming weeks.” The article also states that Russia’s envoy in North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, has stated that preparations for Vladimir’s visit to the country are underway.

Neither Russia nor North Korea have acknowledged news of an upcoming trip. According to Russian news outlet Tass, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated at a briefing in late May that “the visit is in the works, and we will make an announcement in due course.”

Putin | AP News Image

North Korea’s Kim Hails Russia Ties As Putin Reportedly Plans A Visit

Russia and North Korea are at odds with the United States, Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and North Korea over its developing nuclear program. Both North Korea and Russia have denied reports of arms deliveries, which would violate several United Nations Security Council resolutions.

In March, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Wonsik stated that North Korea has already transferred approximately 7,000 containers laden with weapons and other military material to Russia. In response, Shin stated that North Korea had received more than 9,000 Russian containers, most of which were presumably laden with aid.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have recently increased anew, with North Korea launching trash-carrying balloons into South Korea, leading the South to resume propaganda broadcasts along the border.

SOURCE – (AP)