2023-09-19 07:18:33
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Tuesday that its leader, Kim Jong Un, has returned to the country following a trip to Russia in which he strengthened “ties of camaraderie and friendship” with President Vladimir Putin.
During the six-day trip to Russia, Kim’s longest abroad as leader, the two nations said they discussed strengthening their defense relationship but did not reveal any concrete steps. Foreign experts speculate that Moscow and Pyongyang, immersed in confrontations with the West, are pushing to reach arms agreements that would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim’s train crossed a border river on Monday morning, but did not indicate whether it was headed to the capital or elsewhere in the country. Before going to Russia, the president visited several munitions factories, fueling rumors that he would be checking production to send to Russia.
On his tour of Russia’s far east, Kim met with Putin at the country’s most important space launch center before visiting military facilities to see some of Russia’s most advanced weapons, including nuclear-capable bombers, fighter jets and hypersonic missiles.
Speaking live during Wednesday’s summit, Kim offered his “full and unconditional support” to Putin. The ACNC later claimed that Kim and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met to discuss expanding “strategic and tactical coordination” between their armed forces.
Many foreign experts maintain that Kim might provide ammunition to replenish Russia’s depleted inventory in his second year of war in Ukraine and, in return, would receive Russian technology to modernize his nuclear arsenal. U.S. and South Korean officials have warned that Russia and North Korea will suffer consequences if they press ahead with such pacts contrary to U.N. resolutions.
Other experts indicate that Kim would receive food and economic aid because Moscow is reluctant to share its weapons technology with other nations.
Kim has been pushing to strengthen his nuclear arsenal, citing what he calls a growing U.S. military threat. According to analysts, the president may want to use his weapons to obtain concessions from Washington while reinforcing his military credentials at the national level in the face of economic hardships, which were aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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