North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un Affirms Support For Putin, Russian Leadership

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened at the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s far east, signaling a deepening relationship between the two nations. This rare meeting has raised concerns in the West about potential military collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

During their visit to the modern cosmodrome, Kim Jong Un took a tour with Putin and displayed keen interest, posing detailed inquiries about the rockets showcased there.

Subsequently, the leaders engaged in extensive discussions, both with their ministers and delegates and in a one-on-one setting. These talks spanned four to five hours and were followed by an official lunch, as reported by various news outlets.

At the cosmodrome, Kim Jong Un expressed North Korea’s unwavering solidarity with Russia in opposing imperialism and offered “full and unconditional support” for Russia’s struggle to safeguard its sovereignty and security. This was likely a reference to Russia’s strained relations with the U.S. and Western nations, as well as its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Kim emphasized that North Korea will consistently back President Putin and the Russian leadership, according to Reuters.

In response, Putin expressed gratitude for Kim’s visit and indicated that North Korea’s significant interest in rocket engineering and its desire to explore space had prompted the visit. He hinted at the possibility of Moscow assisting Pyongyang in satellite development.

According to Russian state outlet Ria Novosti, Kim is scheduled to visit two more cities in Russia’s far east, though the specific locations and any further high-tech facility tours remain unclear.

Kim’s visit marks his tenth departure from North Korea and his first foreign visit since the country closed its borders in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Intelligence from U.S. and Western allies strongly suggests that discussions regarding an arms deal to support Russia’s activities in Ukraine will be a top priority during this meeting. The visit to a sophisticated cosmodrome intensifies concerns, given the various military applications associated with satellites and rocket technology.

Both Russia and North Korea have faced increased isolation on the global stage in recent years due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. They have incurred heavy sanctions from the international community, and the U.S. has issued warnings of further sanctions in the event of an arms deal.