Kim Jong Un-Putin talks: What do the optics tell us?

Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Jong Un Kim as the two leaders are reunited in a meeting at Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's far east on 13/9Reuters

They moved side by side through the bright room center, with their assistants following them and taking steps behind them.

They looked into the pit where missiles blast into space while standing over a pad.

Later that evening, they enjoyed a feast while toasting the hug of their two tyrant states while sipping red wine.

To put it mildly, the magnification of Jong Un Kim and Vladimir Putin’s day in the far east of Russia have been dazzling. And before he returns home, the the North Korean leader will spend many nights touring shipyards, airplane factories, and other military locations.

As Kim trundled for days in his armored train over the frontier, there had been great excitement in the lead-up, with the world internet enthralled.

He spent almost 40 hours keeping the West in suspense before arriving at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a area base in the far east of Russia. Even then, it was unclear exactly what the two may be discussing because next year, White House instructions that the North might sell weapons to Russia caused concern.

As Kim’s train rolled onto the tracks of the space base, Putin had sent a pleasant party forward to welcome him. In the middle of the air, a red-carpeted, railing stairway was also built, waiting for the the North Korean leader to exit and the train to arrive.

Jong Un Kim stands at the top of a staircase leading to his green train in front of an assembly of uniformed officials on 13/9

KCNA

When Kim arrived in his vehicle, Putin was waiting in front of the center. The two officials shook hands there in front of flashing devices, and the images were soon broadcast by state media.

Both leaders are aware of the effectiveness of artistry, but Kim, the Supreme Leader of the North Korea, is renowned for his service. He is fourth in a line of supreme leaders” who have years of mythology built around them ,” according to University of Sheffield the North Korea expert Sarah Son.

Local audiences, who will be watching this trip and some of the meetings on television and in the newspapers, wouldn’t want to see him as a run-of-the-mill, limited-term state leader.

It’s crucial for Kim to meet with the leadership of other nations face-to-face so that everyone is focused on him and that the North Korea doesn’t appear to be a more important person on the international stage than it actually is.

” Punishment continue to be very strict, and Russia’s need for weapons offers a chance to accomplish two complementary goals: generating income for the the North Korean state and proving that Kim is deserving of the focus of an important global power.”

Pyongyang had also launched two ballistic missiles, the first of which had been launched without the head at home, about an hour before the two officials met.

Leif – Eric Easly, a teacher at Ewha University in Seoul, claims that the summit” definitely linked pariah status behavior in Europe and Asia.”

Russia's President Vladimir Putin waits to greet the North Korea's leader Jong Un Kim during a visit to the Vostochny Сosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023.

KREMLIN/REUTERS

Beyond the show and braggadocio, however, watchers wonder if there were any real deals made at the meeting. Much was made public.

According to Fyodor Tertitskiy, a Northern Korean military scholar at Kookmin University in Seoul,” as of right now, it appears that there have been no significant improvements in the open site.”

” We witnessed a two-fold celebration— a grand spectacle primarily intended for international audiences and secret agreements, the significance of which is still unknown.”

The West is worried that the feared hands provide offer may intensify Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, but no specifics were made public.

Additionally, no mention was made of any potential benefits for the North Korea, such as military and technological advancements or food assistance, as Kim would have preferred, according to experts.

Putin’s hints that he might be able to assist Kim with his place and satellite goals appear to be the only known advance.

According to experts, this is where one of Russia’s most cutting-edge place ports’ location on the other side of the land from Moscow stood out. To fulfill it, both leaders traveled great distances.

Jong Un Kim and Vladimir Putin are followed by their delegations as they tour a space launch site at Vostochny Cosmodrome on 13/9

Reuters

An official explains the base to both Kim and Putin as they stand in front of a map labelled in Korean

Reuters

The delegations examine a rocket launchpad

Reuters

However, according to experts, the conference at the area site gave Putin important optics.

Second, the Russian leader’s meager offer of space help was kept within the bounds of what he might have been able to offer the the North Koreans.

Moscow basically agreeing to assist a rogue state in developing its nuclear and missile program, which has been denounced and outlawed by the UN Security Council for years, is very different from helping the North launch an observation satellite into space that they can use to monitor and evaluate their enemies.

Prior to the war, it was even thought that Russia might play a role in the North Korea’s possible disarmament.

According to Prof. Easley, the meeting this week at the shuttle is” similar to Putin thumbing his head at UN Security Council Resolutions.”

He stated that” this may serve as a wake-up visit to all other UN member states about the necessity of intensifying efforts to impose sanctions on Pyongyang.”

Some, however, view this action as merely a fake meant to calm the West and South Korea, which severed ties with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine and adopted American restrictions.

According to Prof. Easley,” It’s likely that Putin intends to use this summit as leverage against Seoul, probably discouraging them from giving Ukraine weapons, and implicitly suggesting that they might supply the North Korea with military technology in retaliation.”

People at a train station in Seoul watch a news report showing Kim and Putin meeting

EPA

However, it is still highly improbable that Russia would reveal any of its place jewels or even consider the North’s weapons to be anything other than a useful backup.

According to Mr. Tertitskiy,” Yet with regard to the satellite systems, Putin’s statements were careful, not an obvious commitment to offer assistance but quite a strong implication that it may be considered.”

He also draws attention to the almost nonexistent cash flows between the two, noting that the North Korean estimates show that business is still very low despite the rhetoric surrounding weapons. Over 95 % of the North Korea’s business salary is still dependent on China.

He says, referring to the last time the two frontrunners met,” This leaves us uncertain whether this conference will produce any more practical results than the useless 2019 meet did.”

Jong Un Kim delivers a speech at a banquet table with the Russian president and officials

KCNA

Since that gather occurred four years ago, analysts say Kim don’t undervalue this unusual trip. As his lonely state even starts to re-open to the world post-pandemic, this was his first trip abroad in four decades.

According to observers, Putin made certain that he would receive lavish treatment.

Putin’s personal Asia-facing system, which has recently been attended by Taiwanese and South Korean officials, may have just taken place in Vladivostok on the outside of the Eastern Economic Forum.

Instead, he made the trip to meet Kim it and gave him center stage at a completely different location while bringing out the banquet, brass marching band, and red carpet.

” It’s a gesture of deference for Kim. According to Mr. Tertitskiy, this could be seen as a sign to make Kim feel respected.

However, he adds that it’s also about the message being conveyed to the West, which improves view of their marriage despite the lack of specifics.

But he adds that it’s important to concentrate on what the two parties actually do in this marriage.

” Both Kim and Putin are skilled at using trick.” Once more, it’s critical to examine their deeds in practice rather than in words.