Kim Jong-Un offered Vladimir Putin his ‘full and unconditional support’ for Russia’s ‘sacred fight’ to defend its security interests and said Pyongyang will always stand with Moscow on the ‘anti-imperialist’ front, as the two leaders met for talks the West fears could result in a fresh supply of weapons.
The leaders met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east, as both countries face international isolation over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang’s nuclear armament.
‘I will always be standing with Russia,’ Jong-Un said, praising Moscow for having ‘stood up against the hegemonic forces’ to defend its sovereignty and security, a veiled reference to the US and the West.
Putin also signaled a willingness to assist North Korea in developing its space and satellite program.
The meeting came after the US warned that Russia and North Korea are ‘actively advancing’ in a potential arms deal that could see Pyongyang provide weapons for Moscow to aid in the Russia-Ukraine conflict in exchange for sanctioned ballistic missile technology.
Footage released by the Kremlin showed the pair shaking hands enthusiastically as Jong-Un arrived at the Cosmodrome, before the two toured assembly and launch facilities for the Angara and Soyuz-2 space rocket launchers before sitting down for talks with their delegations.
While their leader was in Russia, Pyongyang fired two ballistic missiles on Wednesday, the South Korean military said.
Experts say Russia will likely use the talks to seek artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea, which wants advanced satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology in return.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the claims.
‘The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket technology, and they are trying to develop (their presence in) space,’ Putin said, referring to North Korea by its official name.
‘We’ll talk about all the issues, without haste. There is time’ Putin said, when asked by reporters whether military cooperation would be on the agenda.
Among the top military officials accompanying Jong-Un were Korean People’s Army Marshal Pak Jong Chon and Munitions Industry Department Director Jo Chun Ryong, according to the state media.
Tactical gains and the US-China reaction
The Russia-North Korea meeting is symbolic, especially as Pyongyang failed twice recently in its bid to put a military spy satellite into orbit, experts said.
The White House warned last week that North Korea would ‘pay a price’ if it supplies Russia with weaponry for the conflict in Ukraine.
China will also hardly be pleased about Russia entering into what Chinese consider their monopoly area. Beijing would be worried about the regional destabilization impact of any transfer of Russian military technology to Pyongyang, according to geopolitics experts.
Tactically, both stand to gain, by getting what they need based on the current climate.
The meeting lasted between four and five hours, according to local media reports.
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