North Korea has already been accused by the US and South Korea of supplying Russia with missiles, artillery and other military equipment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed in North Korea to a red carpet on Tuesday night while the official events began on Wednesday. Putin visited North Korea for the first time in 24 years as they pledged to develop their nation’s ties and cooperate to overcome US-led sanctions.
Top officials from Russia have accompanied Putin on his visit to North Korea. The officials include Denis Mantrurov who is the Deputy Prime Minister, Andrei Belousov the Defense Minister, the Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Foreign Policy Advisor Yuri Ushakov.
The leaders began a discussion in Pyongyang as the two nuclear-armed countries are looking forward to deepening their defense and economic ties. Putin focuses on securing support from the Hermit Kingdom for his war against Ukraine which makes his visit a historic event and shows the invincibility of the two countries.
Putin was welcomed by Kim at Pyongyang’s airport which is a rare visit for the country in the early hours of Wednesday. The two men hugged and shook hands and travelled together in the North Korean leader’s limousine along streets decorated with the Russian flag and portraits of the Russian leader, to the Kumsusan State Guest House.
The Central News Agency described their meeting as a historic event that represents the “invincibility and durability” of the two nations’ friendship and unity. Relations and closeness between the two countries have increased for each other’s benefit in recent years, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States expressed its concerns about the deepening relationship.
Russia faces a shortage of weapons and much-needed munitions to fuel its war with Ukraine in exchange of economic assistance with fuel, food, and foreign currency as well as technology transfer after its recent failure of the second spy satellite into orbit.
North Korea has already been accused by the US and South Korea of supplying Russia with missiles, artillery and other military equipment. These are sent to use against Ukraine in return for military technology and aid. This would violate the previously endorsed sanctions on Russia by the UN Security Council but these allegations were denied by Pyongyang and Moscow.
Russia along with China has provided North Korea with political cover for their continuous efforts to advance their nuclear programs. This in turn helps in blocking US efforts to impose fresh UN sanctions on the North over its weapons tests.
It is observed that this meeting will have bigger consequences which will spread far beyond the battlefield in Ukraine. Having the meet help in the globally isolated capital of Pyongyang will give the two autocrats an extended opportunity to discuss the process of expanding their cooperation.
Russia at the moment is struggling with sanctions by the United States and other partners from the West over its aggressive attack on Ukraine while North Korea is also heavily sanctioned by the UN Security Council over its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
Putin made a statement that the two countries will introduce trade and payment systems that are not controlled by the West and further oppose the sanctions against their countries. He describes them as “illegal, unilateral restrictions.” According to the Kremlin Putin mentioned before the visit that they would “shape the architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia,”
The Kremlin describes this as a “friendly state visit” as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un are said to ink a strategic partnership agreement which includes topics of security issues as well.
During their discussion, Putin praised and appreciated Kim’s support on the Russian policies which includes the Ukraine war which began in February 2022. North Korea extended its full support to the Russian government, army, and their people in conducting the special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests, and territorial integrity. North Korea and Russia are seen entering a new era of high prosperity.