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KREMLIN'S POWER PLAY: PUTIN'S SUMMIT WITH NORTH KOREA'S DIPLOMAT AMID SURGING ARMS SUPPLY
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui discussed potential trips to Pyongyang and increased arms transfers during their visit to Moscow, indicating a potential intensification of Moscow's involvement in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The talks were held behind closed doors, but the Tass news agency reported that Choe also met
with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. According to Tass, Choe expressed gratitude for
North Korea's "support within the context of the special military operation in Ukraine," without
providing specific details.
The meeting follows accusations from South Korea and the U.S., accusing North Korea of
supplying over a million artillery rounds and advanced missiles to Russia for use in its assault on
Ukraine. Both North Korea and Russia vehemently deny these allegations, but satellite imagery
of the Najin port near the Russian border raises suspicions. The images depict a consistent flow
of ships, including Russian cargo vessels, and the loading and unloading of hundreds of shipping
containers—raising concerns about arms transfers.
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Despite North Korea's official media remaining silent on the Putin-Choe meeting, it is
anticipated that the foreign minister will conclude her trip on Wednesday. Putin had previously
pledged to visit North Korea during a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in
September, where promises of assistance for Pyongyang's space program were made.
The alleged arms transfers from North Korea to Russia are significant, providing Putin with
additional resources to reinforce his military capabilities in the conflict with Ukraine. Analysts
estimate the value of these weapons to be several billion dollars, potentially alleviating North
Korea's sanctions-burdened economy and easing pressure on Kim to engage in talks with the
U.S. regarding nuclear disarmament.
Moscow is believed to be providing technological support for Kim Jong Il's military programs in
exchange for arms, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. If Putin visits
Pyongyang, it would be his first meeting with Kim on North Korean soil, following a historic
summit in 2000.
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has heightened tensions by removing the concept of
"peaceful reunification" from the state's constitution, labelling Seoul as a primary enemy, and
testing an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of targeting Japan and the US bases in
Guam. The US, Japan, and South Korea are closely evaluating the missile test, raising concerns
over regional stability and potential diplomatic consequences.
