North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un met with Russian Dictator President Vladimir Putin in the Far East, where they dined on food North Koreans would only dream of.
Kim also vowed to support Russia with anything it needs:
After the tour, Putin, 70, and Kim, 39, held talks for several hours with their ministers and then one-on-one, followed by a an opulent lunch of Russian “pelmeni” dumplings made with Kamchatka crab and then sturgeon with mushrooms and potatoes.Kim raised a toast with a glass of Russian wine to Putin’s health, to the victory of “great Russia” and to Korean-Russian friendship, predicting victory for Russia in its “sacred fight” with the West in the Ukraine war.”I firmly believe that the heroic Russian army and people will brilliantly inherit their victories and traditions and vigorously demonstrate their noble dignity and honour on the two fronts of military operations and building a powerful nation,” Kim told Putin.”The Russian army and people will certainly win a great victory in the sacred struggle for the punishment of a great evil that claims hegemony and feeds an expansionist illusion,” Kim added, raising his glass.
Putin confirmed that Kim’s long stay will include visits to factories producing “civilian and military equipment.” He will go to Komsomolsk-onAmur and Vladivostok.
Putin also dropped hints at cooperating with the North Korean military:
Asked whether he discussed military cooperation with Kim Jong Un during their meeting on Wednesday, Putin noted “certain restrictions” on sending military aid to North Korea.But the Russian President admitted that there are areas open for discussion and consideration, suggesting that the topic will be a feature of the North Korean leader’s visit to Russia.“Well, there are certain restrictions, and Russia complies with all these restrictions,” Putin told state-owned Russia 1. “But there are things that we can of course talk about, discuss, think about it. And here too there are prospects,” he added.
Before the two met, North Korea launched two short-range missiles. That rarely happens when Kim is out of the country.
The U.S. is keeping tabs on both men:
- US arms warning: The US government said last week that arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are “actively advancing,” and further talks could take place as part of Russia’s efforts to find new suppliers for weapons to use in its war against Ukraine. Pyongyang could meanwhile seek access to weapons it has been banned from having by United Nations sanctions, especially for its nuclear-capable ballistic missile program.
- Deepening ties: Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton warned Tuesday that the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un is “quite significant,” and “goes well beyond” a potential arms deal. “From North Korea’s point of view, this gets them back into really significant contact with Russia for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union,” Bolton told CNN.
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