Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, is set to embark on a trip to Russia, according to official statements from both nations on Monday. This has raised eyebrows in the West due to concerns over a potential arms agreement that might support Moscow’s involvement in Ukraine.
The Kremlin announced the visit, prompted by an invitation from President Vladimir Putin, is scheduled to take place soon. The exact timing and location of the meeting remain undisclosed, as per reports from the Korean Central News Agency.
The announcement stated, “The esteemed Comrade Kim Jong Un is slated to confer with Comrade Putin during his stay.”
In a press briefing, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, conveyed that the two leaders would spearhead their respective country’s discussions and might also convene privately “if deemed necessary.”
Vladivostok, the eastern Russian city where Putin was spotted on Monday attending an international summit, is speculated to be the potential venue. Notably, this city, situated a mere 680 kilometres north of Pyongyang, was the backdrop for the initial meeting between the two leaders in 2019.
For Kim, this trip symbolizes his first international venture post the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had coerced North Korea into implementing stringent border restrictions. Although Kim seems more at ease flying than his father, who was known for his aversion to flights, he has often resorted to his personal train for key international meetings.
Associated Press correspondents near the boundary between North Korea and Russia reported witnessing a train resembling the one previously used by Kim. The train’s activities were erratic, shuffling between the station and the bridge connecting the two nations, but hadn’t crossed it by the evening.
Unofficial sources in South Korea have hinted that the train began its journey from Pyongyang on Sunday evening, suggesting that the high-profile Kim-Putin encounter might transpire as soon as Tuesday.
Last week, U.S. intelligence indicated the likelihood of such a rendezvous, citing the strengthening alliance between Russia and North Korea amidst rising tensions with the U.S.
U.S. officials project that Putin might seek to acquire more of North Korea’s artillery to bolster diminishing reserves, indicating his preparedness for a prolonged war. This could intensify pressure on the U.S. and its allies, who have already sent significant arms to Ukraine over the past year.
Conversely, Kim might be in pursuit of vital energy, food assistance, and advanced weaponry technologies.
With the Ukraine conflict as a backdrop, the ties between Russia and North Korea have grown stronger since Russia’s incursion into Ukraine in February 2022. This newfound camaraderie has been fueled by Putin’s wartime needs and Kim’s aspirations to fortify his country’s diplomatic stance against the U.S.
North Korea has not only acknowledged the sovereignty of Russian-backed separatist territories in eastern Ukraine but has also shown interest in contributing to their reconstruction efforts.
Russia and China have repeatedly thwarted U.S. endeavours to escalate sanctions against North Korea at the U.N. Security Council, pointing fingers at the U.S. for escalating tensions with Pyongyang.
The U.S. has expressed concerns about the implications of such a partnership. However, some experts opine that the speculated Kim-Putin summit might be more symbolic than significant in terms of military collaboration.
As the global landscape continues to shift and alliances evolve, the potential meeting between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin carries both symbolic and strategic weight. As the world watches closely, the implications of this rendezvous will undoubtedly reverberate across international borders, potentially reshaping diplomatic strategies and realigning global powers in the process.
