Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday to Russia’s far eastern Amur region space facility, where they discussed increased cooperation between the two nations. U.S. officials kept a watchful eye from afar for signs of an arms deal.
Kim, who arrived via his armored train, made his stance towards Russia very clear even before the parties met privately for negotiations.
“Russia is currently engaged in a just fight against hegemonic forces to defend its sovereign rights, security and interests,” he said, according to the Associated Press.
“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea [DPRK] has always expressed its full and unconditional support for all measures taken by the Russian government, and I take this opportunity to reaffirm that we will always stand with Russia on the anti-imperialist front and the front of independence,” Kim said, in an apparent reference to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
Kim and Putin met one-on-one as well as with their collective delegations, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by the AP.
Putin likely arranged the summit in order to secure much-needed ammunition and rockets for his campaign in Ukraine, which North Korea has in abundance, the AP reported.
In exchange, Putin offered to make his nation’s advanced space industry available to Kim.
“We are proud of the development of our space industry, and this facility is new for us. I hope that you and your colleagues are interested in it,” Putin said, according to Russia Today.
Kim could potentially use Russian space technology to help him develop military reconnaissance satellites, according to the AP.
Putin reportedly confirmed to the media that an exchange of satellite and rocket technology was being contemplated.
“That’s why we have come here. The DPRK leader shows keen interest in rocket technology. They’re trying to develop space, too,” Putin said, per the AP.
When asked about military cooperation between the two countries, Putin indicated it was also on the summit agenda.
“We will talk about all issues without a rush. There is time,” he said, per the AP.
Russia can also offer North Korea much-needed energy and food aid, as well as military technology for nuclear-powered submarines that could pose a threat to the nation’s neighbors, reported The Guardian.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Putin’s decision to court Kim suggests the Russian leader is desperate.
“Having to travel across the length of his own country to meet with an international pariah to ask for assistance in a war that he expected to win in the opening month, I would characterise it as him begging for assistance,” said Miller, per the Guardian.
Yet he warned North Korea that providing arms to Russia would violate internationally recognized sanctions.
“I will remind both countries that any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be in violation of multiple UN security council resolutions,” he added.
Russian state news agency TASS reported that Alexander Vorontsov, the head of the Korea and Mongolia Department at the Institute of Asian Studies, said that any outcome or agreements that result from the summit between the two leaders would likely remain secret for the time being.
