North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, is scheduled for a rare trip to Russia to engage in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising concerns about escalating military cooperation between the two nations. The discussions, set to take place in Vladivostok, a port city near North Korea, may involve the exchange of artillery and anti-tank missiles for advanced satellite and nuclear submarine technology from Moscow.
The potential arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea have drawn international attention and have raised alarm bells in the United States. Washington recently imposed sanctions on organizations believed to be facilitating arms deals between the two countries.
Russia’s Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, emphasized the importance of maintaining peaceful relations with neighboring countries, expressing a need for neighborly peace during prior discussions. This sentiment aligns with Russia’s openness to conducting joint military drills with North Korea.
South Korean intelligence reports indicated a visit by Sergei Shoigu to Pyongyang, during which he proposed a trilateral naval exercise involving China. This visit occurred during the 70th-anniversary celebrations of the end of the Korean War, known as “Victory Day” in North Korea.
The history of cooperation between Russia and North Korea dates back to the Cold War era. The Kremlin recently expressed its commitment to strengthening “mutually respectful relations” with North Korea, a country that supported Russia’s annexation of parts of Ukraine in 2022.
While Vladivostok is the expected venue for the upcoming talks, there is a possibility that the meeting could be relocated to Moscow, according to The New York Times. Kim Jong Un’s late father, Kim Jong Il, known for his reclusiveness and unique travel preferences, last visited Russia a few months before his death in 2011.
It’s worth noting that while both countries have called for closer military ties, North Korea has publicly denied any current “arms dealings” with Russia. However, concerns persist about the potential exchange of military equipment and technology between the two nations.
