In a recent development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to visit North Korea. The invitation was extended during a summit held in eastern Russia, where the two leaders discussed various topics, including military cooperation, the conflict in Ukraine, and North Korea’s satellite program.
During the summit, Putin and Kim referred to each other as “comrades” and shared a toast to their friendship with Russian wine. This warm exchange took place after Putin gave Kim a tour of Russia’s cutting-edge space launch facility, and they engaged in discussions alongside their respective defense ministers.
The official invitation, as reported by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, was extended by Kim Jong Un himself, inviting Putin to visit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea’s formal name. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin graciously accepted the invitation, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to travel to Pyongyang in October. Notably, Putin’s international travels have been infrequent since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The burgeoning friendship between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin is a source of concern for the United States and its allies. Washington has previously accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia, though the details of such deliveries remain unclear. Both Russia and North Korea have denied these claims but have expressed intentions to deepen their defense cooperation. During a visit to North Korea in July, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was shown prohibited ballistic missiles by Kim.
In response to the growing closeness between North Korea and Russia, South Korea’s National Security Council (NSC) issued a warning, stating that both countries would “pay a price” if they violated U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The history of North Korea’s relationship with Russia dates back to its founding in September 1948, with support from the Soviet Union. However, Moscow’s support waned after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In recent years, China has been seen as the dominant influencer over Kim Jong Un’s regime, but North Korea has continued to maintain diplomatic ties with both Moscow and Beijing.
The extent of Russia’s commitment to fulfilling North Korea’s technology requests remains uncertain. Amid ongoing artillery battles in Ukraine, Russia has increased its shell production. A potential North Korean supply line could prove valuable to Moscow. North Korea is known to possess a significant stockpile of artillery shells and rockets compatible with Soviet-era weapons, along with a history of ammunition production.
When asked about the possibility of Russia lifting sanctions on North Korea, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Russia remains a responsible member of the U.N. Security Council. However, he also stated that Moscow would develop its relations with North Korea according to its own interests.
The U.S. State Department issued a warning, stating that the Biden administration would not hesitate to impose additional sanctions on both Russia and North Korea if they were found to engage in new arms deals.
In response to criticism from the United States, Russian diplomats argued that Washington’s actions, including supplying weapons to allies worldwide, were hypocritical. Russia’s Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, stated that the United States had no right to lecture other nations on how to conduct their affairs.
This developing relationship between Russia and North Korea has caught the attention of the international community, with many closely monitoring future developments and potential implications for regional and global security.
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