- Kim Jong Un in Russia for Meeting with Putin
- Possible Arms Deal on the Agenda
- Speculation on Weapons Exchange Between Russia and North Korea
Kim Jong Un has crossed the border into Russia in preparation for a meeting with Vladimir Putin.
As Russia confronts a Ukrainian counteroffensive, they will likely discuss an arms deal, according to a US official.
Tuesday morning, the defense ministry of South Korea confirmed that Mr. Kim’s armored train had entered Russia.
It is currently en route to Vladivostok, where the Eastern Economic Forum is being hosted by Russia.
This trip is anticipated to take an additional five to six hours.
The Kremlin said the two leaders would meet in “coming days.” But it might happen as early as Tuesday local time.
According to KCNA, Mr. Kim is accompanied by senior government officials, including military personnel.
Before departing Pyongyang, Mr. Kim was captured waiving from his armored train in photographs shared by state media.
High on the meeting’s agenda is the possibility of North Korea providing Moscow with weapons to support its conflict in Ukraine, a US official earlier told CBS.
Mr. Kim’s final international voyage in 2019 was to Vladivostok for a summit with Mr. Putin, following the collapse of North Korea’s nuclear disarmament talks with then-US President Donald Trump.
It is rumored that his train includes at least twenty bulletproof carriages, making it heavier than typical trains. It can only travel at approximately 59 kilometers per hour (37 miles per hour) due to its weight.
According to the White House, new information indicates that Russia and North Korea are “actively advancing” in their armament negotiations.
Earlier, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu attempted to “convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition” to Russia during a recent visit to North Korea.
Ankit Panda of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said Russia and North Korea have goods each other wants.
“What matters now is whether both sides can agree on reasonable prices for the other’s assistance,” he said.
He stated that Russia will likely ask North Korea for conventional arms, such as artillery projectiles and rocket artillery munitions, in exchange for food and raw materials as well as continued support in international forums such as the United Nations.
“This could allow North Korea to transfer more sophisticated weaponry to Russia, allowing Moscow to maintain and replenish its conventional weapon stocks,” he said.
It is believed that Russia may need 122mm and 152mm shells because its supplies are running low. But it is difficult to ascertain North Korea’s complete artillery stockpile due to its secrecy.
At the July meeting between Mr. Kim and Mr. Shoigu, the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile, believed to be the country’s first ICBM with solid propellants, was on display.
It was the first time since the Covid pandemic that Mr. Kim had opened the country’s doors to foreign visitors.
