NORTH KOREA: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greeted him on the tarmac, where the two leaders engaged in animated discussions, underscoring their strengthening relationship.
Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, his first since 2000, comes amid heightened cooperation between Russia and North Korea. The two leaders last met in September at Russia’s Vostochny cosmodrome, but this trip signifies a deepening of ties, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. North Korea, facing challenges with space technology and shortages of food, fuel, and foreign currency, looks to Russia for assistance. Concurrently, Russia seeks additional weapons for its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The United States has expressed concern over the growing relationship between the two nations. The Kremlin has described Putin’s visit as a “friendly state visit,” with expectations of a partnership agreement on security issues and joint media statements. A parade in Kim Il Sung Square and a concert are planned, along with a visit to the Orthodox Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Pyongyang.
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Ahead of his arrival, Putin praised Kim for supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine and vowed to build trade and security systems with Pyongyang, independent of Western control. In a letter published in North Korean state media, Putin promised support against US “pressure, blackmail, and military threats,” emphasizing their shared opposition to Western ambitions.
Putin’s delegation includes Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Reports suggest Putin will stay at the Kumsusan Guesthouse, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping stayed in 2019. This visit highlights the evolving “unbreakable relationship” between Russia and North Korea, as stated by Kim last week.
As the geopolitical landscape shifts, Putin’s visit underscores his efforts to bolster relations with authoritarian regimes, countering the influence of the US and its allies. Both Washington and Seoul have accused Pyongyang of supplying Moscow with military equipment in exchange for food and aid, claims both nations deny.
