According to Russian TV footage, Kim stated, “We will always be with Russia.”
Quoting a Russian proverb and referencing the Soviet Union’s role in the Korean War, Putin said, “An old friend is better than two new ones.”
The leaders engaged in talks and discussions with delegations for about two hours before attending an official dinner in Kim’s honor.
In Vladivostok, Putin announced that Kim would later oversee a display showcasing the potential of Russia’s Pacific fleet.
Meeting at the Cosmodrome
The two leaders met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East. Kremlin-released footage showed Kim arriving, and the pair enthusiastically shook hands.
They then toured assembly and launch facilities for the Angara and Soyuz-2 space rocket launchers before sitting down with their delegations for talks.
Meanwhile, Pyongyang fired two ballistic missiles on Wednesday while Kim was in Russia, according to the South Korean military. These tests are the latest in a series that bypass sanctions.
Experts believe that Russia will use the talks to seek artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea. In return, North Korea is interested in advanced satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology.
Notably, Kim traveled to Russia in his bullet-proof train and was accompanied by a military-focused entourage.
Among the top military officials accompanying him were Korean People’s Army Marshal Pak Jong Chon and Munitions Industry Department Director Jo Chun Ryong, according to North Korea’s state media.
Images on Russian state television showed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov participating in the talks with Kim.
Before the talks were announced, Russian news agencies published images of Kim and Putin touring the extensive space center.
Referring to North Korea by its official name, Putin said, “The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket technology, and they are trying to develop (their presence in) space.”
In spite of Putin’s “busy schedule,” Kim expressed gratitude for being invited to visit Russia. This trip marks his first foreign travel after the pandemic.
Tactical Gains
Experts argue that the meeting at the cosmodrome holds symbolic significance, especially as North Korea failed twice recently in its attempt to launch a military spy satellite into orbit.
Russia is keen to acquire North Korea’s stockpile of artillery shells, while Pyongyang seeks assistance in satellite technology and the modernization of its Soviet-era military equipment, according to An Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who heads the World Institute for North Korea Studies.
An Chan-il stated, “If North Korea’s multiple rocket launchers and other artillery shells are provided to Russia in large quantities, it could significantly impact the war in Ukraine.”
Upon Kim’s arrival in Russia, the country’s natural resources minister Alexander Kozlov greeted him and presented historic autographed photographs of Soviet cosmonauts, including Yuri Gagarin, according to Kozlov’s ministry.
Last week, the White House warned that North Korea would “pay a price” if it supplies Russia with weaponry for the conflict in Ukraine.
Kim also risks displeasing China, his other major ally, by meeting with Putin, said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo. Tikhonov noted Beijing’s concern about the potential regional destabilization resulting from any transfer of Russian military technology to Pyongyang.
He suggested that Kim and Putin might engage in an exchange where North Korea provides its outdated, Soviet-style ammunition in exchange for Russia’s newer military technology or hard currency (or wheat).
Tikhonov warned, however, that “Russia’s important ties to Seoul will be dealt irreparable damage.”
