Kim Jong Un asked Putin to visit North Korea at a rare encounter, raising U.S. worries that a revitalized Moscow-Pyongyang axis may strengthen Russia’s military in Ukraine and supply Kim with crucial missile technology.

North Korean official news agency KCNA said that Putin accepted the offer, although the Kremlin did not confirm. Putin has hardly traveled since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
They called one other “comrades” and toasted their relationship with Russian wine on Wednesday after Putin, 70, toured Kim, 39, Russia’s most advanced space launch site, and they met with their defense ministers.

“At the end of the reception, Kim Jong Un courteously invited Putin to visit the DPRK at a convenient time,” KCNA said.
“Putin accepted the invitation with pleasure and reaffirmed his will to invariably carry forward history and tradition of Russia-DPRK friendship,” KCNA added.

The growing closeness between Kim and Putin worries the U.S. and its allies: Whether North Korea has sent weaponry to Russia is uncertain, but Washington has accused it.

Russia and North Korea deny the assertions but agree to strengthen defense cooperation. In July, Kim showed Sergei Shoigu prohibited ballistic missiles during a visit.

On Thursday, Putin said Kim would examine Russia’s Pacific fleet in Vladivostok and visit military and commercial aircraft industries in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

‘FRIENDSHIP‘

Kim toasted to Putin’s health, “great Russia”‘s triumph, and Korean-Russian friendship over a delicious meal of Russian “pelmeni” dumplings cooked with Kamchatka crab, white Amur fish soup, and sturgeon on Wednesday, anticipating Moscow’s “sacred fight” with the West.

With Soviet help, North Korea was created in September 1948 and supported for decades throughout the Cold War, although support diminished following the 1991 collapse.

China has had the biggest influence on Kim recently, although Pyongyang’s authorities have attempted to balance relations with Moscow and Beijing.

Putin met Kim Jong Il, father of Kim Jong Un, in Pyongyang in July 2000 after taking over from Boris Yeltsin in 1999.

It was uncertain how far Putin would go to meet North Korean technical wishes during the summit on Wednesday. Russia has increased shell production during the Ukraine artillery conflicts, but a North Korean supply route might help. North Korea has a substantial stockpile of Soviet-era artillery rounds and rockets and a history of making them.

When asked whether Russia might ease North Korea sanctions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was a responsible U.N. Security Council member. Peskov said Moscow will build ties with North Korea in its interests.

The State Department said the Biden administration “won’t hesitate” to apply further sanctions on Russia and North Korea if they sign new military agreements.

Russian officials claimed the U.S. was disingenuous to criticize the conference since it had caused turmoil and deployed weapons to friends.

“The U.S. has no right to lecture us on how to live,” Russia’s envoy to the US, Anatoly Antonov, stated.

South Korea’s unification minister, Kim Young-ho, who oversees relations with the North, expressed “deep concerns” over military cooperation and possible arms sales between Pyongyang and Moscow, saying the two countries were pursuing “some kind of” military deal.