North Korea leader Kim Jong Un left Russia on Sunday. However, his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s have alarmed the likes of South Korea, Japan, Ukraine, the U.S. and European nations. A few countries have admonished the two countries for possible violations of international sanctions.
In the absence of exact details on what kinds of talks have occurred behind closed doors between Kim and Putin, observers say it’s clear what each side is looking for from the other.
As and Pyongyang is believed to be perched on a reserve of ammunition, Moscow is frantic for new supplies of ammunition and shells as its conflict with Ukraine continues.
Meanwhile, a potential deal could see North Korea get hands on nuclear missile technology that could be used as an addition to its nuclear ambitions. North Korea is sanctioned by the West and is in dire need of energy, food and military technology.
On Sunday, Kim left the eastern city of Vladivostok, where he reviewed warplanes, visited an airfield and a Pacific Fleet frigate, to get back to Pyongyang in his heavily-armoured private train following a grand farewell function, Russian and North Korean state media said. Kim was given a red carpet throughout his six-day visit, much of which was spent touring military sites.
Kim got body armour and drones as gifts while wrapping up his visit to Russia that has alarmed the West over a potential for arms deal between Moscow and Pyongyang.
The farewell covered an interesting visit that saw Kim hold talks with Putin, raising the chance that the North could supply Russia weaponry to help its conflict in Ukraine.
As Kim left, the governor of the far eastern Russian region of Primorye gave him a bulletproof vest and drones, Russian state news agency TASS revealed.
“This is a body armour with protection zones for the chest, shoulders, throat and groin, and it is much lighter than its known analogs,” the state news agency added.
Kim was likewise given five kamikaze drones produced in the region, as well as a Geranium-25 aircraft-type reconnaissance drone, TASS added. A set of clothing that is undetectable to thermal imaging cameras was an extra gift.
Following a farewell function that included a red carpet and honour guards, Kim was seen boarding his own train, which left Artyom railway station while Russian authorities waved, in a video distributed by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
No deals have been openly reported and Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov said the two chiefs consented to no deals during their discussions.
In any case, the discussions signalled closer relations between the two nations, the two of which face global isolation — Russia for its attack of Ukraine and North Korea for its nuclear weapons and long-range missile program.
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said military participation between the armed forces of the two nations and in the fields of their national defense and security was discussed among Kim and Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu.