The idyll continues between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to go to North Korea at the invitation of its leader Kim Jong-un, currently traveling to Russia in particular to strengthen their military ties. For the moment, however, nothing has been officially communicated concerning a possible agreement for deliveries of military equipment to Russia in order to support its offensive in Ukraine, as mentioned by Washington.
At the end of a meeting on Wednesday, “Kim Jong-un courteously invited Putin to visit the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) when it suits him,” the official North Korean agency KCNA reported this Thursday, using North Korea’s official name. That same day, the North Korean number one assured Vladimir Putin that Moscow would achieve a “great victory” over its enemies.
“Prospects” for military cooperation
Putin, for his part, toasted the “future strengthening of cooperation” with Pyongyang, speaking to the press about “prospects” of military cooperation with North Korea despite international sanctions.
After the North Korean leader’s arrival in Russia on Tuesday aboard his armored train, Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin visited facilities at the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Far East, completed in 2016 and which should eventually replace the historic Baikonur space base. They then held approximately two hours of formal discussions with their delegations and one-on-one. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Industry Minister Denis Manturov took part in the discussions.
According to Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un will also attend a “demonstration” of the Russian navy in the Pacific in Vladivostok. The North Korean leader will also visit “civil and military” aeronautical equipment factories in the Far East, the Russian head of state said.
Washington threatens new sanctions
The United States expressed “concern,” saying Russia was interested in purchasing North Korean munitions to support its invasion of Ukraine. “We are obviously concerned about any emerging defense relationship between North Korea and Russia,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
In Vostochny, Vladimir Putin for his part raised the possibility that Russia would help Pyongyang build satellites, after North Korea recently failed twice to put a military spy satellite into orbit. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, expressed concern about any cooperation in the field of satellites, which would be “in violation of several UN resolutions”. The United States “will not hesitate” to impose sanctions if necessary against Pyongyang and Moscow, he warned.