Title: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Sets Off for Summit with Russia’s Putin in Vladivostok
Subtitle: Leaders anticipated to discuss potential weapons support amid advancing arms negotiations
Singapore – North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly embarked on his journey to Vladivostok, marking his first international trip in over four years. The purpose of the visit is a summit with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, whose government has confirmed the visit will take place in the coming days.
As per South Korean media, a government official revealed that Kim’s armoured train, often used for his foreign visits, has left Pyongyang. The Pentagon has also acknowledged Kim’s travel plans and expects a meeting of some kind, stated the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
The timing of the summit is significant as the White House recently disclosed that arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are “actively advancing.” A visit by Russia’s Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, to North Korea included an attempt to persuade Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia.
The summit is expected to cover various topics, including the possibility of North Korea providing Moscow with weapons to support its war efforts in Ukraine. An anonymous US official, citing CBS, stated that the two leaders will likely discuss this matter.
Kim’s last trip abroad was to Vladivostok in 2019, where he held his first summit with President Putin after the breakdown of North Korea’s nuclear disarmament talks with former US President Donald Trump. His journey to Vladivostok is anticipated to take an entire day due to the weight of his train, said to include at least 20 bulletproof cars, limiting its speed to 59 km/h (37mph).
Ankit Panda from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace highlighted the mutual interests at stake for both countries. Panda noted that Russia might seek conventional arms, such as artillery shells and rocket munitions from North Korea, in exchange for food, raw materials, and continued support at international forums like the United Nations.
Speculation suggests that Russia may require 122mm and 152mm shells due to diminishing stockpiles, although determining North Korea’s complete artillery inventory remains challenging given its secretive nature. Notably, weapons displayed during Shoigu’s visit to North Korea included the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile, believed to be the country’s first ICBM using solid propellants.
The potential agreement between North Korea and Russia could facilitate the transfer of more sophisticated weaponry, allowing Moscow to bolster its conventional weapon reserves. This move comes as both countries strive to secure suitable prices for each other’s assistance.
The summit holds significance for Kim too, as it marks the first occasion since the Covid-19 pandemic where he has opened North Korea’s doors to foreign guests.
As the world awaits the outcome of the Kim-Putin meeting, it remains to be seen if this summit will pave the way for potential arms support between the two nations or yield other unexpected developments in the region.
Video Caption: Kim and Putin toast at the 2019 summit in Vladivostok.
Image Source: Getty Images