North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed his nation’s solidarity with Russia amidst its standoff against the US and its allies. Kim made an unusual visit to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far Eastern Amur Region as reported by RT News.
“Russia has risen to a sacred battle to defend its national sovereignty and security against hegemonic forces,” Kim declared in advance of their talks on Wednesday. “We will steadfastly stand by Russia in opposition to imperialism.”
Putin acknowledged the uniqueness of the meeting’s venue, stating, “We take pride in the progress of our space industry, and this facility represents a new frontier for us. I hope you and your colleagues find it intriguing.”
The Korean delegation received a guided tour of the space launch site. Subsequent negotiations between the Russian and North Korean delegations, which followed the leaders’ statements, lasted approximately an hour, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Putin and Kim then held a private one-on-one meeting.
Prior to Kim’s state visit, US officials cautioned against North Korea selling weapons to Russia. However, neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has indicated any intention of entering into such an agreement.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu visited North Korea in July during Pyongyang’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of its truce with South Korea. The Korean Peninsula’s 1950s civil war saw the US as the principal participant on the side of Seoul, with the USSR and China supporting the opposing faction.