A view shows a bridge over the Golden Horn Bay in Vladivostok, Russia, September 11, 2023. Portal/Evgenia Novozhenina ACQUIRES LICENSE RIGHTS
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 11 (Portal) – Residents of Russia’s Pacific port said they expected a visit from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as the United States fears it could lead to more arms supplies to the Russian military in Ukraine.
Kim’s trip is still unconfirmed. This was first reported by The New York Times, citing unidentified US officials, and South Korean intelligence said it was possible. But in both North Korea and Russia, the state media remained silent.
The Kremlin said it had “nothing to say” on the matter, although President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to speak at an economic forum this week in the Russian Pacific port of Vladivostok, 6,500 km (4,000 miles) east of Moscow.
A source who wished to remain anonymous told Portal that a visit from Kim is expected in the coming days. Russian news agency Interfax quoted several unidentified sources as saying that Kim would soon visit the Russian Far East.
Kim apparently traveled to Russia by train, South Korean broadcaster YTN reported on Monday, citing a government source. If the trip is confirmed, it would be Kim’s first overseas visit in more than four years and the first since the COVID pandemic.
Vladivostok is just 130 km (80 miles) from Russia’s border with North Korea. If he actually makes the trip, it would only be his second known visit to Russia.
In Vladivostok, police presence on the streets was higher than usual, but no North Korean flags were flown – unlike last time, when the city was decorated with the red five-pointed stars that adorn the communist country’s flag.
In the central square of Vladivostok next to a monument to Red Army soldiers, Russians said they were expecting Kim’s visit.
“Both countries are showing their teeth to the whole world and can stand up for themselves. So there is something in common,” said Vladivostok resident Fyodor, who declined to give his last name.
Others pointed to the economic forum Putin attended.
“There is a forum taking place, so it all adds up – he will come,” said Nikolai, who also did not want to give his last name. “Security will be after his limo again.”
NORTH KOREA
During the Cold War, Moscow supported North Korea, although relations were complicated when China’s Mao Zedong broke away from the Kremlin over his goal of peaceful coexistence with the West.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, relations cooled amid chaos in Russia, and China is seen as the strongest influence on Pyongyang.
The United States has expressed concern that what it calls arms negotiations between the two countries are moving forward. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan urged Kim “not to supply weapons to Russia that would end up killing Ukrainians.”
Analysts say North Korea has huge stockpiles of artillery shells, rockets and small arms ammunition that could help Russia replenish the huge supplies it has used up in more than 18 months of war in Ukraine.
In return, Russia could offer grain, oil and military technology as Kim wants to develop capabilities such as nuclear submarines and military reconnaissance satellites.
“Maybe they will be friends with us, but probably not with the United States,” said Yelena, a tourist from Khabarovsk, a Russian city on the Amur River bordering China.
The United States accuses North Korea of supplying arms to Russia, but it is unclear whether such deliveries occurred. Both Russia and North Korea have denied those claims but vowed to deepen defense cooperation.
The most striking sign of this came in July, when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang and toured a weapons exhibition that included the North’s banned ballistic missiles. He later stood next to Kim and saluted passing missiles during a military parade.
“He (Kim Jong Un) is such a cryptic person, so I don’t even know if he will come or not,” Svetlana said from Vladivostok. “But I think he has to come – we have some changes going on, so what is happening in Russia must be interesting for him.”
Portal reporting in Vladivostok; writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Nick Macfie
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