North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in Russia, and an anticipated summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin is drawing attention. Kim’s well-protected private train reached Russia for the summit, with the US cautioning that an arms deal between the two leaders is possible.
The train journeyed northward through Primorsky Krai in Russia’s Far East, as confirmed by Russian state news agency RIA. South Korea’s Defense Ministry reported Kim’s entry into Russia on Tuesday.
A video shared by Russia Today, verified by CNN, indicated the train’s presence near the Russian-North Korean border, near the Tumen River.
South Korean Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu expressed a keen interest in monitoring potential negotiations between North Korea and Russia concerning arms deals and technology transfer. Russia is in dire need of ammunition and shells, while North Korea, facing prolonged international sanctions due to its nuclear program, is grappling with shortages in multiple areas.
Kim Jong Un, accompanied by senior party officials, government members, and armed forces personnel, departed from Pyongyang on Sunday. However, neither country has specified the timing, location, or agenda of the visit.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that bilateral relations will be a central focus of the meeting, which will involve substantive talks between both delegations. A formal dinner is also planned in honor of Kim’s arrival.
Kim’s trip to Russia is his first foreign visit since the Covid-19 pandemic began, as North Korea sealed its borders during the pandemic. His previous visits to other countries, including meetings with Putin in 2018 and 2019, centered on discussions related to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan noted that the US believes North Korea-Russia negotiations are progressing and warned that North Korea would face consequences if it supplied weapons to Russia for its conflict with Ukraine.
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