Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit North Korea and meet with Kim Jong Un this week, as both nations aim to strengthen their relations amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Putin’s visit, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, follows an invitation from Kim, who visited Russia in September.
The United States has accused the two leaders of engaging in the exchange of weapons and technology. According to U.S. officials, North Korea has been supplying Russia with artillery shells for the Ukraine war, receiving critical technology in return to advance its missile and space satellite programs.
Last week, Kim praised the “meaningful ties and close comradeship” between the countries in a message to Putin on Russia’s national day on June 12th. He expressed full support and solidarity with Russia’s efforts, as reported by the North Korean newspaper, Rodong Sinmun.
Putin has also expressed a desire to expand the partnership with North Korea “in all possible areas,” as noted by Russian state media. In seeking to bolster its military capacity in Ukraine, Russia has relied on other nations such as Iran, which has supplied explosive drones, and China, which has provided technology to support Russian military developments.
Relations between Russia and North Korea had waned following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Kim Jong Un’s first meeting with Putin took place in 2019 in Vladivostok, Russia’s eastern port city.
