MOSCOW, September 11, 2023 – In a significant geopolitical development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an official state visit, as announced by the Kremlin on Monday. This news, confirmed by North Korean state-run media, has raised concerns and prompted analysis about the implications of closer ties between two nations known for their adversarial stance toward the United States.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on Monday that “Our Dearest Comrade Kim Jong Un will be visiting Russia upon invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the visit, he will meet Putin and hold a summit.” The visit, long-anticipated, has been shrouded in secrecy, with Kim Jong Un reportedly departing Pyongyang in a bullet-proof train on Sunday night.
Moreover the train is expected to take a leisurely two days to arrive in the Russian city of Vladivostok, located on the North Korean border, with a journey speed of just 37 miles per hour. After arriving in Vladivostok, the train is expected to undergo modifications to accommodate Russian tracks. Coinciding with Kim’s visit, President Putin commenced a two-day trip to Vladivostok on Monday to attend an economic forum, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.
Rebekah Koffler, a strategic military intelligence analyst and former senior official at the Defense Intelligence Agency, expressed concerns over the strengthening relationship between Russia and North Korea, emphasizing its potential strategic implications for U.S. security. “Two of our top adversaries are joining forces, expanding military-industrial cooperation,” Koffler said.
She highlighted Russia’s extensive expertise in nuclear arms and space technology and expressed concerns about the sharing of this knowledge with North Korea, which could impact global security dynamics. Furthermore, the close relationships that both Russia and North Korea maintain with China add to these concerns.Koffler argued that the cooperation between the two nations could be mutually beneficial. Russia could provide North Korea with much-needed food supplies amid a deepening food crisis in the country and access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
In return, North Korea could potentially supply Russia with munitions to support its involvement in Ukraine. Koffler also pointed out that Russia could assist North Korea in enhancing its military-industrial technology base, particularly in the fields of nuclear, satellite, space launch, and missile technologies. Recent talks between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin reportedly involve a plan for North Korea to send weapons supplies to Russia.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby commented on the situation, interpreting it as a sign of desperation by Putin. “We have new information, which we are able to share today, that arms negotiations between Russia and the DPRK are actively advancing,” Kirby stated. “Following these negotiations, high-level discussions may continue in the coming months. Now, among these potential deals, Russia would receive significant quantities and multiple types of munitions from the DPRK, which the Russian military plans to use in Ukraine.”However, Adrienne Watson, another
According to reports from Fox News, NSC spokesperson, emphasized that North Korea has previously expressed reluctance to sell arms to Russia, though the specifics of the reported trip remain unconfirmed. “As we have warned publicly, arms discussions between Russia and the DPRK are expected to continue during Kim Jong-Un’s trip to Russia. We urge the DPRK to abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia,” Watson stated.
In addition to the potential strategic consequences, Koffler believes that the meeting between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin sends 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,” Koffler noted. “Neither would miss an opportunity to irk the U.S.”
As Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia unfolds, the world watches closely, with heightened concerns about the shifting geopolitical landscape and its implications for international security.
