Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin will be received by dictator Kim Jong-un in North Korea on Tuesday for a “friendly state visit”. North Korea is accused by the West of providing Russia with ammunition for its war of aggression in Ukraine; Putin has already thanked him for this support.
“We very much appreciate the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s firm support of the special military operation in Ukraine,” Putin wrote in an op-ed published by North Korean state media on Tuesday. The US is concerned about the close ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.
According to information from the Kremlin, Putin will arrive in North Korea for his visit on Tuesday evening. It is Putin’s second visit to the country during his time as head of state. Shortly after taking office as president, the Kremlin leader met Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, who died in 2011, in 2000.
Cooperation must be deepened
The trip will “take bilateral cooperation to the next level” and contribute to the “development of mutual and equal cooperation” between Russia and North Korea, Putin said. Both countries are actively developing the multifaceted partnership.
Official visits to North Korea are rare
Isolated North Korea rarely receives official visitors at the highest level. Pyongyang is accused of supporting Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine with arms supplies. Putin is currently trying to find additional ammunition. According to the Kremlin, the Russian president’s visit comes at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim.
In the article, the ruler praised Stalinist-ruled North Korea for defending its interests “despite decades of economic pressure, provocation, blackmail and military threats from the United States.” He also stressed that Moscow and Pyongyang maintained their “common line and common position” at the UN.
It is expected that several “important documents” will be signed during Putin’s visit, including a possible “strategic partnership agreement”. The document must be signed at the highest level, that is, by Putin and Kim. No information was provided about the contents of the contract
The US said it was “concerned” by the increasing deepening of ties between North Korea and Russia and its potential impact on the security of Ukraine and South Korea. “We know that North Korean ballistic missiles continue to be used to hit Ukrainian targets,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. This could “cause some interaction that could affect security on the Korean Peninsula.”
Kuleba calls trip ‘lonely bromance’
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the trip as a “lonely bromance” between Putin and North Korean leader Kim. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the visit showed how dependent Putin is on authoritarian leaders.
After his stay in North Korea, Putin will travel to Vietnam for a two-day visit, according to the Kremlin.
Source: Krone
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