On Saturday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Vladivostok, where he was greeted by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to state news agency TASS.
This rare trip by Kim outside of his isolated country is his first official visit abroad since the Covid-19 pandemic began. It has raised concerns among Western countries that Moscow and Pyongyang may strike an arms deal in defiance of sanctions.
Reports suggest that Moscow is interested in buying North Korean ammunition to continue fighting in Ukraine, while Pyongyang seeks Russia’s assistance in developing its missile program.
The Kremlin has stated that no agreement has been made or will be made.
However, Kim’s extended tour of Russia’s far eastern region, which began on Tuesday, has had a strong military focus. This includes his military-dominated entourage, a symbolic exchange of rifles with President Vladimir Putin, and a visit to a fighter jet factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
After meeting with Kim on Wednesday at the Vostochny cosmodrome, roughly 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) from Moscow, Putin expressed the possibility of greater cooperation with North Korea, including military ties.
Putin also mentioned that Kim’s visit would involve a stop at the port of Vladivostok to witness a display of Russian warships.
Upon arriving in Vladivostok, which is located close to the Chinese and Russian borders, Kim was welcomed by Shoigu and an honor guard, as reported by TASS.
In addition to observing Russia’s Pacific Fleet, Kim is expected to visit the Far Eastern Federal University and marine biology laboratories at the Russian Academy of Sciences, according to Putin’s provided itinerary.
It should be noted that colleges in Russia’s Far East have traditionally accepted North Korean students.
‘Troubling’ cooperation
Kim’s visit to Russia coincides with Putin’s efforts to strengthen alliances with other world leaders who have been isolated by Western countries.
Both Russia and North Korea are facing multiple international sanctions, with Moscow being targeted due to the Ukraine conflict and Pyongyang due to its nuclear tests.
The exchange of rifles between Kim and Putin during the spaceport summit on Wednesday has fueled speculation about the possibility of an arms export deal, despite warnings from Western countries.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that no agreements were signed during Kim’s ongoing trip, and there are no plans to sign any.
During their meeting, Putin accepted an invitation to visit North Korea, according to the Kremlin. It has also been reported that Putin offered to send a North Korean to space, which would be a historic first.
Moscow also raised the possibility of assisting North Korea in satellite manufacturing, a prospect that has raised concerns in Washington.
The cooperation announced during Kim’s trip to Russia is considered “quite troubling” and may potentially violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, who spoke after the leaders’ summit.
It is worth noting that North Korean satellites have been used to aid the development of Pyongyang’s ballistic missiles.
Recently, Pyongyang failed twice in its attempts to launch a military spy satellite into orbit.
