loading…
Russian President Vladimir Putin opened up opportunities for military cooperation with North Korea after meeting Kim Jong-un. Photo/NDTV
MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin said Russia was considering and discussing a number of military cooperation with North Korea (North Korea), following his meeting with Kim Jong-un.
The two met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east, as the two countries face international isolation over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
The meeting came after United States (US) officials warned that Russia and North Korea were “actively advancing” a potential arms deal that could see Pyongyang provide weapons for Moscow to use in the Ukraine war in exchange for agreed ballistic missile technology.
Asked whether he discussed technical military cooperation with Kim Jong-un during the meeting, Putin acknowledged certain restrictions were in place and were being fully complied with by Moscow.
However, Putin also admitted that there were several things open for discussion and consideration, which showed potential prospects for cooperation.
“Yes, there are certain restrictions, and Russia complies with all these restrictions,” Putin told the state-owned Russia 1 news agency.
“But there are some things that we can of course talk about, discuss, think about. And there are prospects here too,” he added as reported by CNN, Thursday (14/9/2023).
Earlier during a toast at a state dinner with Putin, Kim Jong-un said he was confident that Russia would emerge victorious in what he called a punishing struggle for evil forces ambitiously pursuing hegemony and expansion.
Without naming Ukraine, Kim said: “The Russian military and its people will inherit a glorious tradition of victory and demonstrate their reputation at the forefront of military operations.”
