Reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to visit North Korea for a third summit with leader Kim Jong Un, as the two nations face separate confrontations with the United States. The news comes as Kim praised the expanding relationship between North Korea and Russia, describing it as an “unbreakable relationship of comrades-in-arms.”
Since Kim’s visit to Russia last September, military, economic, and other forms of cooperation between the two countries have increased dramatically. The U.S., South Korea, and their partners believe that North Korea has been supplying Russia with conventional weapons to aid its war efforts in Ukraine, in exchange for advanced military technologies and economic assistance.
Kim’s push to strengthen partnerships with Russia and China is seen as an attempt to bolster his regional standing and present a united front against the United States. During their meeting at Russia’s main space launch site last year, Kim invited Putin to visit North Korea, an invitation the Russian leader accepted.
Recent media reports indicate that Putin’s visit to North Korea could occur as early as next week, with Japanese public broadcaster NHK citing diplomatic sources claiming that the Russian president is also planning a trip to Vietnam. NHK suggests that Putin may be seeking stronger military ties with North Korea due to Russia’s weapons shortage in the Ukraine conflict, while North Korea could be looking for help with its space technology following the recent failure of its second spy satellite launch.
Both Russia and North Korea have denied allegations of arms transfers, which would violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. However, in March, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik claimed that North Korea had already shipped about 7,000 containers filled with munitions and other military equipment to Russia, receiving more than 9,000 Russian containers likely filled with aid in return.
As tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalate, with North Korea launching trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea and the South resuming propaganda broadcasts at border areas, the anticipated meeting between Kim and Putin is set to draw significant attention from the international community.
