North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un will reportedly travel to Russia this month and meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the supply of weapons to the Kremlin for the war in Ukraine.
According to a U.S. official, details of the meeting were still unclear, however, it was likely to take place in the Russian port city of Vladivostok. The potential meeting comes after the White House said it had “new information that arms negotiations between the two countries were actively advancing.”
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Talks could advance between the two countries about ammunition sales that could replenish Russia’s stockpile for the war with Ukraine https://t.co/q2wIfO54MF
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 5, 2023
According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Russia’s defense minister recently traveled to North Korea in efforts to attempt to “convince Pyongyang to send artillery ammunition” to Russia. After the visit, Putin and Kim reportedly exchanged letters “pledging to increase their bilateral cooperation.”
“We urge (Pyongyang) 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,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia could potentially provide aid to North Korea in exchange for military aid. The country is reportedly suffering its worst food shortage in decades, after the nation kept its borders shut during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“North Korea feels really threatened,” said Artyom Lukin, an expert on Russia-Asia relations and professor at the Far Eastern Federal University. “Kim Jong Un understands well how weak North Korea is, even with its nuclear weapons, vis-à-vis the U.S. alliance with South Korea and Japan.”
Putin has plenty to gain in speaking with Kim, with thousands of Korean soldiers being sent to fight for Russia as the nation suffers from high labor shortages, especially in Siberia and its far east.
North Korea also has more than 300 munitions factories capable of producing weapons. Pyongyang could help stabilize ammunition supply as Moscow scales up production.
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