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| ▲ This file photo, carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 14, 2023, shows its leader Kim Jong-un (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin holding a summit at Russia's Vostochny spaceport the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
Putin-NK visit
Putin arrives in N. Korea for summit with Kim: Russian media reports
SEOUL/WASHINGTON, June 19 (Yonhap) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in North Korea in his first trip to the reclusive country in 24 years, Russian news outlets reported Wednesday, as he is set to hold a summit with leader Kim Jong-un in another sign of their deepening ties.
Putin began his state visit to Pyongyang, according to Sputnik and TASS, amid growing concerns that burgeoning bilateral defense cooperation would help prop up Russia's war operations in Ukraine and enhance North Korea's weapons programs to the detriment of regional and global peace.
Putin last visited Pyongyang in July 2000 when he met with then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the late father of the current leader. This week's visit comes nine months after the current North Korean leader had a summit with Putin in Russia's Far East in September.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy aide, has told Russia's news agency TASS that the summit between Kim and Putin may produce a treaty on a "comprehensive strategic partnership," a document likely to accelerate the two countries' cooperation at a time of their isolation on the global stage.
Since September, Pyongyang and Moscow have been strengthening their security partnership in ways reminiscent of their countries' Cold War-era camaraderie.
Washington has revealed that the North has supplied Russia with dozens of ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 containers of munitions for use in Ukraine.
In return, the North has been seeking assistance from Moscow, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles and ballistic missile production equipment, according to U.S. officials.
Analysts said Kim and Putin may adopt a joint declaration that calls for both sides to elevate the level of military, security and economic cooperation but saw a low possibility of them clinching a treaty akin to a military alliance.
The two sides are also expected to highlight cooperation in the economic sector, as their arms deals and military cooperation constitute a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, according to observers.
In an article contributed Tuesday to the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, Putin said Russia has a plan to build trade and settlement systems with North Korea that will not be controlled by Western countries.
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