After a high-profile summit in Russia’s Far East, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanged rifles as gifts, according to the Kremlin. Putin has been aiming to strengthen alliances with other hardline leaders who have been marginalized by the West. Speculation was rife that an arms deal would be agreed upon during Putin’s meeting with Kim.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed the press that Putin presented Kim with a Russian-produced rifle of the finest quality. In return, Putin received a North Korean rifle as a gift. Additionally, Putin gave Kim a glove from a space suit, and he gladly accepted an invitation to visit North Korea.
Putin announced that Kim’s visit to Russia, which commenced on Tuesday, would continue for a few more days.
The warm relationship between the two leaders is occurring at a time when Russia is facing isolation from the West and some of its long-standing allies due to its involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
U.S. officials and experts have expressed concerns that Russia may be seeking to purchase North Korean ammunition for use in Ukraine, a move that the White House has warned will have consequences.
