Vladimir Putin signals help for Kim Jong Un but quiet on weapons

Jong Un Kim of the North Korea met Putin, Vladimir in Russia during a closely watched meeting that was anticipated to result in an shoulders agreement.

According to Russian state media, Mr. Kim started his lengthy journey back on his personal armored train after talks at the Vostochny space center came to an end.

Moscow has stated that it will aid Pyongyang in developing its spacecraft.

Both factors refute the US’s assertion that the discussions are intended to fund Russian military operations in Ukraine.

In addition to cutting-edge place systems, Mr. Kim is believed to have requested food assistance in exchange.

Senior officials from both sides attended the meeting between the two sanctioned governments, which took position at a time when their ties to the West were at an all-time lower.

Mr. Kim, who spent two days traveling to the Vostochny storage center in the far east of Russia, was warmly welcomed by President Putin during the high-profile visit. The two leaders shook hands and smiled in Russian state media images before Mr. Putin personally escorted Kim around the room center.

Mr. Putin responded,” This is why we’ve come to Vostochny Cosmodrome ,” when asked if Russia would assist the North Korea in building satellites.

the North Korea attempted to launch a detective dish double earlier this year but was unsuccessful. Pyongyang has committed to creating one to improve its military tracking capabilities.

When asked if he would speak to Mr. Kim about martial assistance, Mr Putin added that they would” debate all matters.” Later, Mr. Kim gave the impression that he was in favor of Putin’s conflict in Ukraine.

According to Mr. Kim,” Russia has risen to a spiritual fight to defend its independence and security from the imperial causes.” ” We will work together in the fight against imperialism and will always help the choices of President Putin and the Russian management.”

Any exchange of weapons would be against UN Security Council resolutions and” a mark of the desperate position in which the Russian state finds itself ,” according to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Tuesday.

” We won’t hesitate to take actions to hold those responsible if necessary ,” he continued.

The Kremlin had previously stated that they valued Russia and the North Korea’s objectives above all else,” and no instructions from Washington.”

Mr. Kim traveled overseas for the first time since 2019 at the conference. After the collapse of the North Korea’s nuclear peace negotiations with then-US President Donald Trump, the next day he traveled outside of the country was also to match Mr. Putin.

Some had anticipated that he would travel to Vladivostok, where Mr. Putin was attending an economic community, but instead the train headed north toward Vostochny. the North Korea launched two short-range weapons into the water on Wednesday morning as Mr. Kim got closer to his place.

Following a Russian delegation’s July visit to the North Korea, where Mr. Kim displayed Pyongyang weapons, including the Hwasong international ballistic missile, to Sergei Shoigu, the two men met.

According to researchers, the North Korean weapons may be highly sought after by Moscow because they are compatible with Russian weapons systems.

According to Valeriy Akimenko, an analyst on Russia’s war with the Conflict Studies Research Centre, they may be especially interested in artillery shells and guns because it is” the god Russia admires” on the battlefield.

According to Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of the North Korean Studies, Pyongyang would probably agree to supply these along with bullets and” yet older types of weapons.”

According to Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asian Institute for Policy Studies, it is also possible to supply more recent weapons, such as the so-called” super-large” rocket KN – 25 and short-range ballistic missiles.

Given that it hasn’t engaged in combat since the Korean War ended in an armistice in 1953, some experts think the North Korea may have a sizable arsenal. However, others think Pyongyang might be hesitant to give up too much given their comparative scarcity of resources.

However, observers think that using the North Korean weapons may only temporarily boost Moscow’s war effort. They claim that Moscow is relying on older, less reliable weapon shell stocks despite having a severely depleted supply of ammunition. According to Mr. Akimenko, the North Korea’s weapons had serve” as a quit – space measure” while Russia struggles to increase production.

However, given how quickly Russia has been using up its materials, the offer would not have much of a strategic impact. It may result in more Ukrainian deaths. But Ukraine will never perish ,” he continued.

Border closures during Covid, which the downtrodden the North Korean government has only recently begun to relax, have particularly hurt it. The country has long struggled under restrictions.

Pyongyang does request more sophisticated submarine and nuclear technology from Russia in addition to food aid, though Mr. Putin may draw a line at that, according to some observers.

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said that” even the most desperate combat system does no deal its military king pearls for ancient, silly munitions.”

The appointment raises a more important question: Are the severe restrictions imposed on Russia and the North Korea actually effective?

Their meeting, according to Rorry Daniels, managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute( ASPI ), demonstrated that the two nations now” can conduct business without fear of further punishment” thanks to international sanctions.

The US is complete less to employ sanctions as leverage to resolve the underlying issues the more says under severe punishment are pushed up.

Pyongyang, a renowned Park Won-gon affiliate professor in the Department of the North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, is also at risk from the condition.

” the North Korea may turn the entire NATO alliance against it, which could eventually trigger additional sanctions ,” according to any evidence that Russia used the North Korean weapons in Ukraine.

Extra coverage by Seoul-based Yuna Ku.