Russian President Vladimir welcomed Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur region, TASS reported. The main topic is expected to be the supply of ammunition from North Korea to Russia.
“I’m glad to see you,” Putin said, as he shook hands with Kim for about 40 seconds, welcoming him to the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a state-of-the-art launch facility in Russia’s far eastern Amur region. “This is our new spaceport.”
Kim, speaking through an interpreter, thanked Putin for the invitation and the warm welcome.
Footage released by the RIA news agency showed Kim and Putin shaking hands, grinning widely, standing outside, surrounded by security officials and Russian media representatives, before entering a gleaming glass-walled building together.
When reporters asked do Russia will help Kim build satellitesPutin replied: “That’s why we came here. The leader of the DPRK is very interested in rocket engineering; they are also trying to develop space.”
Asked if he and Kim would discuss military matters, Putin said they will discuss all issues. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was present at the negotiations.
The summit between the leaders of the two countries, which are increasingly isolated internationally, closely watched by Washington and the allieswho suspect that tax collectors can agree on arms trade and defense technology.
According to Interfax, Kim will be shown the assembly process of the Angara rocket, as he and Putin will inspect the launch complex under construction for her and the launch complex for the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle, after which they will hold talks.
Asked if the leaders would discuss weapons, the Kremlin spokesman said Dmitry Peskov said the two countries cooperated in “sensitive” areaswhich will not be made public, according to the Interfax agency.
On Tuesday, Peskov said Kim’s visit would be “full-fledged” and that the two sides will hold “negotiations”. Humanitarian aid to North Korea and UN Security Council resolutions imposed on Pyongyang could also be discussed, Russian officials said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the talks are important given the geopolitical changes in the world.
“Bilateral contacts are very important. And the situation on the Korean Peninsula, of course, is from extremely important for security and stability in the region”said the spokeswoman of the ministry Maria Zakharova, quoted by the state news agency RIA.
Kim arrived in Russia on a private train on Tuesday with senior defense industry and military officials and said his visit highlights the “strategic importance” of ties between the two countriesthe North’s state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday.
According to some analysts, the makeup of Kim’s delegation, with the prominent presence of Munitions Director Jo Chun-ryong, gives the appearance of an agenda that is loaded with cooperation in the defense industry.
Kim can offer artillery shells from North Korea’s large stockpileswhich could complement Russia’s capabilities in the short term, but questions about the quality of the munitions may limit the overall impact, military analysts said.
South Korea and the United States have warned that such a deal would violate UN Security Council resolutionswhich Russia as a permanent member of the council voted to approve.
Kim’s visit to Russia is his first visit abroad since the global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. The official announcement by North Korea’s state news agency KCTA said his visit was aimed at consolidating friendly relations between North Korea and Russia and cooperation at a “new, higher level”.
North Korea has fired a ballistic missile again
While North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was traveling to Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin
2023-09-13 05:33:12
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