Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, left Russia this Sunday after several days there and a meeting with Vladimir Putin. Before he left, he was given special gifts: explosive drones.
A symbolic gift. This Sunday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un left Russia after an official visit lasting several days. In particular, he had the opportunity to meet Vladimir Putin, with whom he discussed the “prospects” of military cooperation despite the heavy sanctions against Pyongyang due to its nuclear weapons program.
The visit was actually about weapons issues. Kim Jong-un inspected Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships on Saturday along with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Shortly before his return to North Korea, Kim Jong-un was offered special gifts. In fact, he received five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone and a bulletproof vest from the governor of the Primorye Region in the Russian Far East. These military gifts have a high symbolic value. Additionally, Vladimir Putin and the North Korean leader gifted each other rifles earlier in the week.
According to North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the visit comes at a time when “a new era of friendship, solidarity and cooperation is dawning in the history of the development of relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Russia.”
Although the Kremlin assured at the end of this visit that no agreement had been reached, Westerners remain concerned about the rapprochement between Russia and North Korea. The US fears this approach particularly as Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine and could demand arms supplies to Pyongyang. North Korea is suspected of wanting to acquire new technologies for its nuclear program.