North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
September 13, 2023, 6:04 am ET
• 4 min reading
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for about five hours on Wednesday, toured a space base in Russia’s Far East and signaled a united front against the West.
“I am so grateful that you are paying so much attention to our visit to Russia,” Putin said at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, adding: “I am sure that we will stay together in our fight against imperialism.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin (second from left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center) examine a missile assembly hangar during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023. Vladimir Smirnov/AP
The North Korean leader said his country supports the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
“Russia has waged a holy struggle for its sovereignty and security against the hegemonic forces,” he said. “North Korea supports all of Putin’s decisions.”
The two were expected to discuss a trade deal during the summit that could include North Korea supplying Russia with munitions that could be used in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Those discussions were “actively progressing” ahead of the sit-in, a U.S. official told ABC News last week.
The high-level meeting began at around 2:30 p.m. local time after days of speculation about when and where the meeting would take place. The Kremlin, which announced on Monday that the meeting was planned, had said on Tuesday that it would take place in the coming days.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023. Sputnik/via Portal
Kim left Pyongyang on Sunday evening and traveled to Russia on a slow-moving train that crossed the border into Russia’s Far East on Tuesday.
Putin began a two-day trip on Monday to Vladivostok, a port city near Russia’s eastern border with North Korea, where he attended an economic forum, the Russian news agency TASS said.
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, arrives at the Vostochny Cosmodrome ahead of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023.Sputnik/ via Portal
Putin greeted Kim in front of the building on Wednesday.
Both heads of state and government came to the summit with an entourage. Kim also included his sister Kim Yo Jong. He was also joined by Pak Jong Chon, a top aide, and Ri Pyong Chol, commander of the Korean People’s Army. Putin arrived with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“I’m very happy to see you,” Putin said as he greeted Kim, according to RIA News, a state media outlet.
The two shook hands and went inside, where Kim later signed a guest book and wrote: “Glory to Russia.”
ABC News’ Shannon Crawford, Ben Gittleson, Joe Simonetti and Joohee Cho contributed to this story.