North Korean Leader Visits Aircraft Factory in Russia

According to TASS news agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in the town of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the far east of Russia on Friday, and went directly to a large factory that produces military aircraft and other equipment. The agency reported that the regional governor and other officials welcomed Kim on a red carpet at the railway station in the town before transporting him to the factory. The factory produces the latest Russian fighter jets, including Sukhoi Su-35 and Su-57 aircraft, as well as civilian planes. Regional governor Mikhail Degtyarev wrote on the Telegram application that Kim inspected facilities producing parts for military aircraft in addition to the civilian Superjet-100, which Russia aims to produce without imported components. Kim also observed a test flight of the Su-35 aircraft. Degtyarev stated, "Our fathers and grandfathers fought together against Japanese militarism, and our country supported North Korea in its battle against U.S. colonial ambitions in the 1950s; today we stand together against Western pressures."