North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday at a cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East. The meeting is expected to center around Russia’s desire to purchase ammunition from North Korea to replenish its reserves depleted by the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting highlights the deepening cooperation between the two leaders, who are both engaged in separate confrontations with the United States.
In exchange for ammunition, North Korea is likely to request shipments of food, energy, and transfers of sophisticated weapons technologies. This meeting marks Kim’s first with a foreign leader since North Korea closed its borders in January 2020. The meeting comes at a crucial time, as both leaders are facing increased pressure from the international community.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu previously visited Pyongyang in July, where he requested Kim to send more ammunition to Russia. Shoigu mentioned the possibility of holding military exercises between the two nations, something that has never occurred before. The extent of their military cooperation remains uncertain, but any indication of warming relations between North Korea and Russia is likely to raise concerns among their rivals, particularly the United States and South Korea.
Russia is seeking to suppress a Ukrainian counteroffensive and prolong the war, while North Korea is conducting missile tests to protest U.S. efforts to reinforce military alliances with South Korea and Japan. It is important to note that purchasing ammunition from North Korea would be a violation of United Nations resolutions. However, Russia, facing international sanctions and export controls due to the war in Ukraine, has been seeking weapons from other sanctioned countries like North Korea and Iran.
Experts suggest that Kim’s priorities in the negotiations would include receiving aid shipments, gaining prestige, and obtaining military technology. North Korea has been facing severe economic difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is likely to request supplies of food and energy. Additionally, Kim aims to showcase expanding relations with Russia as a sign of overcoming years of isolation. North Korean leaders view face-to-face meetings with world leaders as indications of their country’s international importance and for domestic propaganda.
Furthermore, Kim is believed to be seeking Russian technology to support his plans of developing high-tech weapons systems, such as long-range missiles, hypersonic ballistic weapons, nuclear-powered submarines, and spy satellites. However, it remains unclear whether Russia would be willing to provide North Korea with advanced technologies related to nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
There have been discussions about the possibility of a bilateral military exercise between Russia and North Korea, which would be the first time North Korea has conducted military drills with a foreign country since the Korean War. However, there are mixed opinions on whether North Korea would accept such an offer, as it could potentially make the nation more dependent on China and Russia.
Experts emphasize that it is too early to predict the outcomes of Kim’s diplomacy with Russia. While there are practical areas of cooperation between the two countries, some view it as a way for North Korea and Russia to demonstrate defiance towards the United States. As the negotiations progress, it will be interesting to see how the relationship between North Korea and Russia evolves and what impact it will have on the geopolitical landscape in the region.
