Vladimir Putin was invited by Kim Jong-un to visit North Korea
According to the North Korean state news agency KCNA, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to visit North Korea at the invitation of leader Kim Jong-un during his trip to Russia, during which the two leaders held official talks that lasted about two hours.
After a meeting on Wednesday, “Kim Jong-un politely invited Putin to visit the DPRK [République populaire démocratique de Corée] whenever it suits him,” KCNA reported Thursday, using North Korea’s official name. “Putin gladly accepted the invitation and reiterated his unwavering desire to further advance the history and tradition of friendship between Russia and the DPRK,” the agency said.
According to Russian authorities, Moscow has offered Pyongyang to send a North Korean astronaut into space as a sign of strengthening their relations. He would be the first North Korean to reach Earth orbit as the reclusive country looks to expand its space programs.
The Russian president touched on “future strengthening of cooperation” with Pyongyang and spoke to the press about “prospects” for military cooperation despite international sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program and missiles under development.
The North Korean leader assured Mr. Putin that Moscow would achieve a “great victory” over its enemies as Russia has been embroiled in a war in Ukraine for more than a year and a half.
At the moment, nothing has been officially communicated about a possible agreement to supply military equipment to Russia to support its offensive in Ukraine, as Washington mentioned.
The North Korean leader said he was ready to develop a “plan for the next hundred years” with Mr. Putin to build stable and “future-oriented” relations, KCNA reported.
According to Putin, Kim Jong-un will also take part in a Russian Navy “demonstration” in the Pacific in Vladivostok – a trip for which he did not specify the timing. The North Korean leader will also visit “civil and military” aviation equipment factories in the Far East, the Russian leader said.