North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Tuesday ahead of an anticipated weapons deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The notoriously reclusive North Korean dictator made the trip aboard a luxurious armored train (his preferred alternative to flying) as Russia looks to expand its offensive capabilities in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Kim arrived in the Russian city of Khasan, where he was met by military officials and a band, according to Russian state media. Shortly after arriving, he met with Alexander Kozlov, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, likely discussing North Korea’s desire to access Russia’s food supplies in exchange for military support.
However, the main focus of the meeting will come during a joint summit between Kim and Putin, during which the two leaders are expected to discuss Russia’s urgent need for more weapons. As foreign aid to Ukraine continues pouring in from Western nations, Russia’s resources are steadily draining, forcing the Russian government to turn to its allies for support.
North Korea is believed to be in possession of millions of artillery shells, rockets, and other Soviet Era munitions, which could be a major boon for the embattled Russian army. In exchange, Kim is expected to negotiate for Russia’s help in upgrading the capacities of North Korea’s military, potentially gaining access to nuclear technology for its intercontinental ballistic missiles.
“Naturally, being neighbors, our countries cooperate in certain sensitive spheres which should not be publicly revealed or announced,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov. However, the Kremlin has confirmed that Kim and Putin will have “an intensive exchange of opinions on the situation in the region.”
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In light of the potential strengthening of Russian forces, the Ukrainian government in Kyiv expressed growing concern as their troops look for a decisive breakthrough in the conflict. “Of course, there is concern about this visit,” Ukrainian parliament member Oleksandr Merezhko told Newsweek. “First of all, North Korea is a close ally of our enemy and has recognized Russian-occupied territories. Second, if North Korea will start supplying munitions to Russia it will increase the risk for our soldiers and civilians. In fact, North Korea will become an accomplice in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”
Western rivals of both nations have issued stern warnings against any arms sales, threatening additional sanctions against them.
“We urge the (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) to abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said ahead of the meeting.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office also released a statement, saying “Many countries are watching the summit between North Korea, which is under U.N. sanctions, and Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, with a bit of concern for various reasons, but as the president has stated, we hope Russia will act responsibly as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.”
But as the meeting approaches, many Western nations—as well as dissident parties within Russia—are seeing the agreement as a sign of weakness.
“If they are looking for weaponry in North Korea, one of the poorest and less developed countries of the world — an isolated country — to my mind that is the utmost humiliation of the propaganda of Russian ‘great power,’” former Russian Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev told the BBC. “A great power would not go to North Korea for an alliance or military supplies.”
“North Korea is a part of the axis of evil waging war against Ukraine,” Merezhko said. “Among these countries are also Belarus and Iran. It’s a sign of desperation that Putin has turned to North Korea for help.”
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