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Putin will visit North Korea after 24 years.
The President of Russia will be on a two-day visit to North Korea. This is his second visit to North Korea. He will arrive in North Korea on Tuesday after nearly 24 years. Putin’s possible visit to North Korea has been discussed for a long time.
The visit has also been confirmed by the Kremlin. The Kremlin called the visit a ‘friendly political visit’. During his visit, Putin will meet with North Korean President Kim Jong Un. Putin may visit Vietnam from North Korea on Wednesday.
Kim Jong Un himself will be present at the airport
According to a report by news agency AFP, Kim Jong Un himself will welcome Putin at the Sunan International Airport in the capital Pyongyang. His sister Kim Yo Jong and daughter Kim Joo are also expected to attend.
According to a BBC report, sources indicated last week that Putin’s visit is imminent. Satellite images also showed ongoing preparations for Putin’s possible visit to North Korea.
Western countries fear that an arms deal could be struck between the two countries during Putin’s visit.
Arms deal with Putin
In the run-up to Putin’s visit, there is speculation that Kim Jong could strike a deal with Russia regarding financial aid and technology transfer in exchange for the necessary weapons. In fact, Russia needs more weapons to stay engaged in the Ukraine war.
Military and economic cooperation between North Korea and Russia has increased rapidly since the start of the Ukraine war. The US and South Korea have accused North Korea of supplying ammunition, missiles and other military equipment to Russia.
In a Bloomberg report, South Korea’s Defense Ministry claimed that Russia had sent 5 million artillery pieces to North Korea. However, both Pyongyang and Moscow have categorically denied the weapons transfer allegations.
Putin visited Pyongyang in July 2000, just months after becoming president in March 2000. He met Kim’s father and North Korean ruler Kim Jong Il.
North Korea experts believe that Putin’s visit will further increase Kim Jong Un’s power.
The rapprochement between Russia and North Korea has increased
Kim Jong Un, who took power in North Korea in 2011, has, like his father, tried to build better relations with Russia and China. Kim Jong Un’s closeness to Putin can be gauged from the fact that Russia forgave all North Korean debts in 2012.
According to reports, Russia has been isolated since the start of the Ukraine war and is seeking to mend relations with anti-American countries. Before this visit to Putin, Kim Jong Un visited Russia.
Putin’s visit will strengthen Kim Jong Un in the country
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Seoul’s Ewa University, told news agency AFP that Putin’s visit would be seen as a ‘victory’ for Kim Jong Un. Putin’s visit will further strengthen North Korea’s international image. With this, Kim Jong Un’s acceptance in his home will further increase.