North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would reportedly meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this month to discuss the sale of weapons to Moscow for the Ukraine war. According to reports, Kim would travel to the Russian port city of Vladivostok for the meeting.
According to a US official, Kim may travel to Russia soon to meet with President Vladimir Putin as the Kremlin tries to acquire military equipment for use in its war.
The official, who was not authorised to address the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the US expects Kim will make the trip within the month. Quoting military intelligence, The Guardian reported that Kim may travel by an armoured train to the Russian Pacific Coast, given its proximity with North Korea.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson noted Monday that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu travelled to Pyongyang last month and tried to persuade North Korea to sell artillery ammunition to Russia.
According to reports, Russia is seeking to procure artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea. Meanwhile, the North Korean leader is hoping Moscow will provide them with technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines. Kim is also reportedly trying to strike a food deal with Russia following reports of chronic food shortages and malnutrition among children in North Korea.
Watson said, “We have information that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia.” She added that the US is urging North Korea "to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia.”
Shoigu said Monday that the two countries may hold joint war games. The New York Times first reported that Kim planned to meet with Putin in Russia this month.
The White House said last week that it had intelligence indicating that Putin and Kim swapped letters following Shoigu's visit. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the letters were more at the surface level but that Russian and North Korean talks on a weapons sale were advancing.
However, Moscow has not responded to these reports. A Kremlin spokesperson said it has got “nothing to say” about reported Kim’s travel to Russia.
(With PTI inputs.)
