The New York Times reported today, Monday, that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia to discuss weapons. Officials indicate that Russia is seeking more weapons for its war in Ukraine, and a North Korean delegation recently traveled to Russia by train to plan Kim's visit this month.
According to American news agencies, Kim Jong Un intends to travel to Russia this month to meet with President Putin to discuss the possibility of supplying Russia with more arms for its war in Ukraine and other military cooperation. Officials stated that in a rare trip from his country, Kim will likely travel from Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, possibly by armored train, to Vladivostok, on Russia's Pacific coast, where he will meet Putin. It is also possible that Kim will go to Moscow, although this is not certain.
Officials mentioned that Putin wants Kim to agree to send artillery shells and anti-tank missiles to Russia, while Kim wishes for Russia to provide North Korea with advanced technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines. Kim is also seeking food aid for his impoverished nation, according to the newspaper.
The two leaders are expected to be at the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok for the Eastern Economic Forum, scheduled to take place from September 10 to September 13. They noted that Kim also intends to visit Pier 33, where naval ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet are docked. North Korea is celebrating its founding anniversary on September 9.
The White House warned on Wednesday that Putin and Kim exchanged messages discussing a potential arms deal, citing declassified intelligence. White House spokesperson John Kirby stated that high-level discussions regarding military cooperation between the two countries "are actively progressing." U.S. officials declined to provide further details on the personal relationship between the two leaders, who are viewed as adversaries of the United States.
The new information about the planned meeting between them goes well beyond prior warnings. The U.S. has not declassified intelligence related to the plans or downgraded its level, and the officials who described it were not authorized to discuss it. They refused to provide details on how intelligence agencies gathered the information.
While the White House declined to discuss the new intelligence, Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated that Russian Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu traveled to North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to try to persuade Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia. She added, "As we have publicly warned, arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are actively advancing. We have information that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue and may involve high-level diplomatic engagement in Russia."
At various times since Russia began its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials have released declassified intelligence in an attempt to dissuade North Korea and China and other countries from supplying arms to Russia. U.S. officials say that the White House's warnings about the planned transfers of North Korean artillery shells have halted previous cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
