North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East, on Wednesday, to discuss a wide range of topics, including military cooperation, the ongoing Ukraine war, and potential Russian support for North Korea’s satellite program.
“The leader of North Korea shows great interest in space, in rocketry, and they are trying to develop space. We’ll show our new objects,” Putin said. “We’ll talk about all the issues without haste, there is time.”
The choice of the Vostochny Cosmodrome as the summit location, symbolizing Russia’s space ambitions, underscored the importance of space technology in their discussions, especially given North Korea’s recent failed satellite launch attempts.
When asked about discussions regarding military-technical cooperation with Kim, Putin acknowledged the existing constraints that Moscow adheres to but hinted at areas open for dialogue and exploration.
“Well, there are certain restrictions, and Russia complies with all these restrictions. But there are things that we can, of course, talk about, discuss, think about it. And here too there are prospects,” Putin stated, signaling potential avenues for collaboration.
Putin revealed that Kim plans to visit military and civilian aviation factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and inspect Russia’s Pacific fleet in Vladivostok in the near future, further cementing bilateral relations.
Kim, during a state dinner toast with Putin, expressed his belief in Russia’s military and its eventual victory over forces seeking hegemony and expansion, without explicitly mentioning Ukraine.
“I firmly believe that the heroic Russian army and people will brilliantly inherit their victories and traditions and vigorously demonstrate their noble dignity and honor on the two fronts of military operations and building a powerful nation,” Kim proclaimed.
Video footage released by the Kremlin showcased the two leaders exchanging handshakes before touring the space center and the adjacent rocket complex, where launch vehicles are manufactured and tested.
While North Korea places a high priority on space technology, it has faced challenges, having failed twice this year to launch a spy satellite into orbit. Kim has emphasized the strategic significance of military satellites for national security and territorial stability.
Providing North Korea with such technology would violate international sanctions aimed at impeding Pyongyang’s efforts to establish a fully functional nuclear weapons and ballistic missile arsenal.
When Russian media inquired about Russia’s assistance with North Korea’s satellite program, Putin cryptically responded, “That’s why we came here,” leaving room for speculation about the extent of Russian technological support.
The five-hour summit between the two leaders was described as “very substantive” by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who also stated that North Korea has shown significant interest in enhancing bilateral ties with Russia.
Kim visits Russia’s space rocket launch facility
The summit began with a tour of Russia’s cutting-edge space rocket launch facility at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, where Kim, having traveled by train from North Korea, had a chance to explore the facility. During the tour, Kim engaged Putin with numerous inquiries about rocket technology, showcasing his keen interest in the subject.
The leaders then enjoyed an opulent lunch featuring Russian “pelmeni” dumplings made with Kamchatka crab, followed by sturgeon with mushrooms and potatoes.
During the lunch, Putin and Kim affectionately addressed each other as “comrades” and reminisced about the Soviet Union’s historical support for North Korea, marking 75 years since its establishment.
A sign of desperation
In response to the summit, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield characterized Russia’s engagement with North Korea as a sign of desperation.
As the ongoing Ukraine conflict escalates into a protracted artillery battle, observers are watching to see if Kim’s visit might lead to artillery supply agreements with Russia. Notably, Russia has joined China in opposing new sanctions on North Korea, creating divisions within the U.N. Security Council.
Before departing, Kim signed the visitor book in Korean, leaving a message of praise for Russia’s contributions to space exploration: “The glory to Russia, which gave birth to the first space conquerors, will be immortal.”