North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to head to Russia and meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss, in part, selling weapons to help the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, according to top US officials.
The exact time frame for the planned sit-down was not disclosed Monday by National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson, but Kim will likely travel to Russia by armored train.
“We have information that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue, including leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” Watson said in a statement.
“We urge the DPRK to stop its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitment that Pyongyang has made not to provide or sell arms to Russia.”
Privately, officials believe the meeting could happen as soon as next week, according to the New York Times.
Kim rarely leaves the Hermit Kingdom – at least as far as the outside world knows – but in the past, he has done so via armored train.
Kim Jong Un pictured by his armored train in 2019.TASS / Barcroft Images
The North Korean leader has conducted several green-light missile tests this year that have troubled US national security officials. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images
In this case, he will likely travel from Pyongyang, North Korea, to Vladivostok, Russia, the New York Times reported, citing officials who said he could also travel to Moscow.
If Kim agrees to an arms trade, Putin could send him technology for nuclear-powered submarines and satellites, officials told the outlet.
The North Korean dictator inspects a major munitions factory on September 2, 2023. via REUTERS
Kim is also likely to seek food supplies for his starving country.
Russia has been actively courting its allies as it stares down the barrel of intense sanctions from the West and an unrelenting war with its neighbor, Ukraine.
North Korea is quite familiar with western sanctions.
US officials say Russian President Vladimir Putin is finding himself increasingly isolated on the world stage.MIKHAEL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Last month, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu went to North Korea to urge Pyongyang to sell ammunition to Moscow.
“Russia has been forced to turn to rogue regimes to try to obtain weapons and equipment to support its military operations. That’s due in part to the comprehensive sanctions and export controls we’ve imposed,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said at a news conference last week.
“One of those regimes is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
Another is China, Russia’s neighbor that has helped the Kremlin struggle through the international fallout from the bloody conflict.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has welcomed friendly relations with Russia and North Korea.CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Shutterstock
Recently, a South Korean lawmaker revealed that intelligence suggests Russia may float after coordinating naval exercises with China and North Korea.
South Korean lawmaker Yoo Sang-bum was briefed by the country’s intelligence agency Monday, according to the Associated Press.
Russia’s ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, recently opined that the joint exercises “seem appropriate,” according to the report.
North Korea fires a strategic cruise missile in this undated photo.KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images
Next week, President Biden is set to attend the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, India from September 7 to September 10.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to skip a diplomatic event amid friction with India and instead send Premier Li Qiang.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
