Kim Jong Un Arrives in Russia for Meeting with President Putin, Sparking Concerns about Potential Arms Deal
Seoul, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Tuesday, accompanied by his top military officials, amid concerns about a potential arms deal for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Kim left North Korea by train on Sunday, and South Korean media reported that a meeting between Kim and President Vladimir Putin could happen as soon as Tuesday.
Although the details of the trip were not confirmed by Russia, the Kremlin issued a statement confirming that Kim was to pay an official visit to Russia at Putin’s invitation. The talks between the two leaders will focus on bilateral ties and developing mutually beneficial relations.
There are concerns that a potential arms deal between North Korea and Russia could increase the threat posed by Kim’s growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles. The United States has accused North Korea of providing Russia with arms, including artillery shells sold to the Russian mercenary group Wagner.
However, some analysts believe that a meeting between Kim and Putin would be more about symbolic gains than substantial military cooperation. They suggest that Russia may be reluctant to make major technology transfers to North Korea for limited war supplies transported over a small rail link between the two countries.
The meeting between Kim and Putin comes as Russia and North Korea have drawn closer to each other since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This closer bond is driven by Putin’s need for war help and Kim’s desire to boost the visibility of his partnerships with traditional allies Moscow and Beijing.
The international community will be closely watching the outcome of the meeting between Kim and Putin, in hopes of gaining insights into the potential arms deal and its implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.