Putin meets Kim Jong-un in search of more weaponry
- Russia moves closer to North Korea with an eye on Ukraine
- Laying the foundations for "long-term" bilateral relations
- US watches Putin's moves with concern
Vladimir Putin has landed on North Korean soil for the first time in more than two decades at the helm of Russia. He had not done so since 2000, when Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un's father, was still in power. And the reasons, far from being limited to a mere diplomatic rapprochement with the hermetic Asian country, lie more in Ukrainian territory. Moscow needs armaments and has seen Pyongyang as one of its best options for reinforcing its arsenal in view of the third year of war that the conflict with Kiev has already entered.
Russia moves closer to North Korea with an eye on Ukraine
Without being polar opposites by any means, Putin has never shown excessive closeness to Kim Jong-un's dictatorial regime, at least in terms of direct meetings with its leader. But circumstances force the Russian president to win as many partners as he can, especially when, after the invasion of Ukraine, his traditional allies - China among them - have shied away from showing their unreserved support for what the Kremlin calls a "special military operation".
This is not the case with North Korea. Kim Jong-un has conveyed to Vladimir Putin his "unwavering support for Russia's policies, including on Ukraine". The North Korean leader also expressed his "solidarity" with Moscow, which, he says, must "protect its sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity". The visit began with a welcoming ceremony in Kim Il-Sung Square, where the North Korean regime's most important celebrations are usually held.
Laying the foundations for "long-term" bilateral relations
While it is true that Putin has travelled to Pyongyang with an eye on what is happening in Ukraine, he also wants to take advantage of his historic visit to bring closer the positions with which his country has experienced "significant progress" in cooperation between the two countries. The Russian leader also referred to the latest summit held in Russia between the two leaders who, according to Putin, are seeking to fight "against decades of imperialist policies imposed by the United States".
They want to improve their relations, and they want to do so by increasing the number of agreements between the two countries. A path they already started down last year with an agreement on military matters at a summit last year in Amur. Now Putin announces that they want to discuss "a new document" that will serve as a basis for improving bilateral relations "in the long term". A move that worries his rivals for control of the World Order.
US watches Putin's moves with concern
Washington is keeping an eye on Moscow. The country presided over by Joe Biden is watching this rapprochement between Russia and North Korea with concern, especially given the importance of Putin's first trip to Korea in 24 years. The White House is expressing some concern about the "deepening" of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang, especially in the defence sector.
This is not surprising, though it does not come as a surprise. The US was "fairly certain", Washington insiders say, that the Russian leader was seeking to acquire weapons to bolster his position in the Ukrainian war. Indeed, Pentagon Major General Patrick Ryder believes that "the deepening cooperation between Russia and North Korea is something that should be of concern, especially to anyone interested in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula".
This is one of the most sensitive issues for US foreign policy, which is not exactly at its best when it comes to ties with the North Korean regime. The historic visit to North Korea by then - and probably again from November onwards - President Donald Trump was a long time ago. Biden's unsuccessful efforts to meet with Kim Jong-un have failed to convince a regime that is now taking another step towards strengthening its alliance with Russia.
