Putin and Kim Jong Un will meet in Russia to send a defiant message to the West, according to U.S. leaders, who claim that a potential arms agreement with North Korea would demonstrate that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ‘desperate’
The Kremlin announced on Monday that Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an official state visit.
According to an ABC News report, Kim is anticipated to meet with Putin within the next few days, as confirmed by North Korean state media on Monday.
“Our Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un will travel to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.” During the visit, he will meet with Putin and conduct a summit, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
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Sunday night, a bulletproof train reportedly transporting the North Korean leader departed Pyongyang, according to a report citing a South Korean official. The train is anticipated to arrive in the Russian city of Vladivostok on the North Korean border in two days, covering 683 miles at a speed of only 37 miles per hour. From there, the train is anticipated to receive new axles that will permit it to travel on Russian rails.
According to TASS, Putin also launched a two-day trip to Vladivostok on Monday to attend an economic forum.
According to Rebekah Koffler, a strategic military intelligence analyst, former senior official at the Defense Intelligence Agency, and author of “Putin’s Playbook,” closer ties between Russia and North Korea will have “huge strategic implications for U.S. security.”
“Two of our top adversaries are joining forces, expanding military-industrial cooperation,” stated Koffler.
“Russia has one of the most extensive knowledge bases in nuclear weapons and space technology in the world. The fact that this knowledge will be shared with North Korea is not favorable for the United States. The fact that these two adversaries have close ties with China exacerbates the situation.”
Koffler believes that the cooperation between North Korea and Russia will be mutually beneficial, observing that Russia can provide food to North Korea in the midst of a worsening food crisis in the country and provide access to the COVID-19 vaccine. In the meantime, North Korea will be able to supply Russia with the munitions it needs to continue its invasion of Ukraine. Koffler stated that Russia can also aid North Korea militarily.
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Koffler noted that Russia, as one of the world’s leaders in nuclear, satellite, space launch, and missile technologies, can assist North Korea in bolstering its military-industrial technology base.
“The recent unveiling of North Korea’s new tactical nuclear attack submarine is no coincidence.” The expansion of North Korea’s arsenal of weapons of mass destruction is plainly not in the United States’ best interest.”
John Kirby, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, stated last month that talks between Kim and Putin concerning a plan for North Korea to send weapons supplies to Russia were “actively advancing,” a symptom of Putin’s desperation.
Kirby stated, “We have new information that we can share today indicating that arms negotiations between Russia and the DPRK are actively progressing.” Following these negotiations, high-level discussions may proceed in the subsequent months.
Now, among these prospective deals, Russia would receive from the DPRK large quantities and a variety of munitions that the Russian military intends to use in Ukraine.”
Kim Jong Un participates in the seventh enlarged plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea in Pyongyang.
(KCNA through REUTERS)
North Korea has stated in the past that it is unwilling to transfer arms to Russia, according to Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council. However, the NSC has yet to confirm the specifics of the reported trip.
“As we’ve warned publicly, we expect arms talks between Russia and North Korea to continue during Kim Jong-Un’s visit to Russia. Watson told Fox News Digital, “We urge the DPRK to adhere to its public commitments not to provide or sell weapons to Russia.”
Koffler believes that the meeting between the two sides conveys a clear message of defiance to the West.
“Another, less tangible benefit for the two dictators is that the Putin-Kim meeting is upsetting Washington,” said Koffler. “Neither would pass up a chance to irritate the United States.”
