
North Korea’s Kim sets forth steps to boost Russia ties as US and Seoul warn about weapons deals
Experts have speculated the two nations discussed banned arms transfer deals and other cooperation measures during Kim’s visit
Experts have speculated the two nations discussed banned arms transfer deals and other cooperation measures during Kim’s visit
Kim visited several military sites in Russia and said in live comments last week that his country offered full and unconditional support to Putin
Since entering Russia last Tuesday in his first overseas trip in more than four years, Kim had met President Vladimir Putin and visited key military and technology sites.
While in Russia, he met President Vladimir Putin and visited weapons and technology sites, underscoring deepening ties between the nations
The summit underscored Russia’s estrangement on the world stage and the shrinking circle of friends that Moscow can rely on thanks to the 18-month-old invasion
The attack early Wednesday was in the port city of Sevastopol, which serves as the main base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. It took place as Moscow launched drones against southern Ukraine’s Odesa region
The meeting underscores how the two countries’ interests are aligning. The Russian president is believed to be seeking one of the few things Pyongyang has in abundance: stockpiles of aging ammunition and rockets for Soviet-era weapons
Kim is expected to seek economic aid and military technology for his impoverished country and has munitions Russia desperately needs
The Kremlin’s website said Kim’s visit is at the Russian president’s invitation and would take place ‘in the coming days.’ The West is concerned that the meeting will lead to a potential arms deal for Moscow’s war in Ukraine
The reclusive Asian country is estimated to have tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets to replenish the Russian army
Seiler spent four decades as a presidential adviser, negotiator and policy-maker on North Korea
Kim said the country is also pursuing a nuclear-propelled submarine and plans to remodel its existing submarines and surface vessels so that they could handle nuclear weapons
The anticipated meeting between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin has set alarm bells ringing over Pyongyang supplying weapons to Moscow in return for nuclear know-how
U.S. officials also said Russia is trying to buy ammunition from North Korea for its war in Ukraine
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson noted that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to Pyongyang and tried to persuade North Korea to sell artillery ammunition to Russia
Observers say North Korea likely aimed to demonstrate again it has missiles capable of striking key targets in South Korea in protest at its rivals’ military exercises
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby points out that the letters were ‘more at the surface level’ but that talks on a weapons sale were advancing
The apparent resumption of travel came as the U.N. rights chief, Volker Türk, told the first open meeting of the U.N. Security Council on North Korean human rights since 2017 that the country was increasing its repression and people were becoming more desperate
The 23-year-old private is believed to be the first American soldier to enter the secretive dictatorship since 1982 after crossing the DMZ while on a civilian tour
Kim Jong-un’s push to produce more weapons also comes as U.S. officials believe Russia’s defense minister recently talked with North Korea about selling more weapons to Russia for its war with Ukraine
‘We know the government’s human rights abuses and violations facilitate the advancement of its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles program,’ U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Thursday
State media reported Sunday that Kim’s three-day inspections came as the U.S. and South Korea prepared for their next round of combined military exercises planned for later this month
This South Korean priest, founder of the Caleb Mission church, has managed to save ‘more than 1,000′ people in the last 20 years. ‘Currently, there are more than 200 who have contacted us to be rescued,’ he says
The mood is more somber in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol has invited dozens of foreign war veterans to honor the fallen soldiers of the 1950-53 conflict
KCNA also says Kim took Shoigu to an arms exhibition showcasing some of North Korea’s newest weapons
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement condemned North Korea’s missile launches as a ‘grave provocation’ that threaten regional peace and stability
“It’s likely that North Korea will use the soldier for propaganda purposes in the short term,” said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in South Korea