Kim expressed his loyalty to Russia, saying “We will always be with Russia,” as seen on Russian TV.
Putin responded by quoting a Russian proverb and acknowledging the Soviet Union’s involvement in the Korean War, stating, “An old friend is better than two new ones.”
After bidding farewell to Putin and wishing him good health, Kim moved on to his next destination, according to KCNA. Putin had mentioned earlier that Kim would witness a display of Russian warships in Vladivostok, highlighting the capabilities of the Pacific Fleet.
A ‘Blood Alliance’
Concerns about a potential arms agreement between Russia and North Korea have been raised by Western countries due to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
“The summit indicates a significant change in northeast Asian geopolitics,” said Kim Jong-dae, a former MP and visiting scholar at Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies.
A stronger alliance between North Korea, Russia, and China could have a destabilizing effect on the region. Additionally, North Korean ammunition could impact the war in Ukraine.
“I believe Russia has already tested North Korean shells in various battlegrounds and is now prepared to expand their use in the future. The US and South Korea have not fully grasped the implications of such an arms deal between Russia and North Korea,” he explained.
Russia faced isolation in the West after its invasion of Ukraine last year, which has prompted the country to seek stronger alliances with other leaders in similar situations.
During Kim’s visit to Russia’s Far East, Putin praised the “strengthening of cooperation and friendship between our countries” while hosting him at a spaceport.
Furthermore, Putin mentioned that Moscow could assist Pyongyang in developing satellites, especially after North Korea’s recent failed attempts to launch a military spy satellite.
In response to potential cooperation between Russia and North Korea, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller commented that it would be “quite troubling and potentially in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”
Accompanied by a significant military delegation, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Kim traveled to Russia in his bulletproof train.
Cheong Seong-chang, a researcher at the Sejong Institute, stated, “With Kim Jong Un’s latest visit to Russia, North Korea-Russia relations can be said to have returned to the level of a blood alliance during the Cold War.” He added that previous summit meetings between North Korea and Russia did not involve such a large number of key military officials as the current one.
