Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, has arrived in Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, where they are expected to provide mutual support in their ongoing confrontations with Western nations.

Kim is anticipated to request Russian economic aid and military technology in exchange for munitions that could be used by Russia in its Ukraine conflict.

According to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency, Kim and members of the ruling party, government, and military boarded his private train bound for Russia on Sunday afternoon.

Russia and North Korea have recently drawn closer due to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, driven by Putin’s need for war supplies and Kim’s desire to strengthen ties with traditional allies Moscow and Beijing.

South Korea’s military confirmed that the train entered Russia on Tuesday. Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as confirming Kim’s entry into Russia.

Photos of officials identified in North Korean state media may provide insights into Kim’s objectives in the meeting.

Kim is accompanied by Jo Chun Ryong, a ruling party official in charge of munitions policies, who has recently joined Kim on tours of factories producing artillery shells and missiles, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry.

Analysts suggest that North Korea may have tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs, which could significantly support the Russian army in Ukraine.

Other individuals identified in photos include Pak Thae Song, chairman of North Korea’s space science and technology committee, and Navy Adm. Kim Myong Sik, associated with North Korean efforts to acquire spy satellites and nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines. Obtaining such capabilities would likely be challenging for North Korea without external help, although it’s uncertain if Russia would share such sensitive technologies.

Kim Jong Un may also seek essential energy and food supplies, and Russia might discuss humanitarian aid, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko.

Kim’s delegation likely includes his foreign minister, Choe Sun Hui, and his top two military officials, Korean People’s Army Marshals Ri Pyong Chol and Pak Jong Chon.

Putin arrived in Vladivostok on Monday to attend an international forum and is expected to meet Kim after the forum, with a lunch in Kim’s honor.

Kim’s visit marks his first foreign trip since the pandemic, during which North Korea imposed strict border controls for more than three years.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk, stated that Seoul was maintaining communication with Moscow while closely monitoring Kim’s visit, emphasizing the importance of adhering to U.N. Security Council sanctions.

U.S. officials released intelligence indicating that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders. Putin could focus on securing additional supplies of North Korean artillery and ammunition to replenish dwindling reserves and demonstrate his ability to sustain a prolonged conflict in Ukraine.

The United States and its partners may face increased pressure to pursue negotiations as concerns grow over a protracted conflict, despite their significant shipments of advanced weaponry to Ukraine over the past 17 months.

White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson mentioned that arms discussions between Russia and the DPRK (North Korea) are expected to continue during Kim Jong Un’s trip, urging North Korea to honor its commitments regarding arms sales.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized monitoring the meeting and reminded both countries of U.N. Security Council resolutions against arms transfers from North Korea to Russia, warning of potential new sanctions.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno expressed concern about the Kim-Putin meeting’s impact on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The United States has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia, including selling artillery shells to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, although both Russian and North Korean officials have denied these claims.

Speculation about military cooperation between the two countries increased after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s rare visit to North Korea in July, during which Kim invited him to an arms exhibition and a massive military parade showcasing ICBMs targeting the U.S. mainland.

Following this visit, Kim toured North Korea’s weapons factories, encouraging the modernization of North Korean weaponry and examining supplies that could be exported to Russia.

Source: with agencies