Kim and Putin meeting planned in North Korea
Russia and North Korea want to consolidate their relations with further talks on North Korean soil after the recent summit in Vostochny. Kim invited Putin to North Korea during talks in Russia, the North Korean state news agency KCNA reported on Thursday. Putin accepted the invitation.
According to the report, Kim expressed his willingness to promote stable and future-oriented relations for the next 100 years. Both sides had agreed, given the “military threats, provocations and tyranny of the imperialists“ to further strengthen strategic and tactical cooperation. Wednesday’s meeting in the Russian Far East took bilateral relations to a new level.
Be it “disturbing“US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said after the summit that Russia was talking to North Korea about cooperating on programs that would potentially violate a UN Security Council resolution. The USA would “do not hesitate“to impose additional sanctions on Russia and North Korea if they conclude new arms deals. South Korean Unification Minister Kim Young-ho also commented “deeply worried“ about military cooperation and possible arms deals between the governments in Pyongyang and Moscow. The two countries apparently continued to pursue “some kind“ military business. “We once again call on Russia and North Korea to end their illegal actions that isolate and set them back, and to respect international rules, including Security Council resolutions“.
Russia wants to help North Korea build satellites. Putin made numerous hints on Wednesday that military cooperation had been discussed, but gave few details. Analysts assume that the delegation that traveled from North Korea speaks in favor of military cooperation. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also took part in the talks. The Kremlin said sensitive discussions between neighboring countries were a private matter.