On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met at a cosmodrome in Russia to discuss Pyongyang’s satellite program. Kim stated Moscow had his complete support in its “sacred fight” against the West.

Putin said the two leaders would address “all issues,” including procuring North Korean weaponry and ammunition to replace Moscow’s depleted supply. Washington and its partners prioritize defense cooperation during the gathering.

Putin said, “That’s why we came here,” when reporters asked whether Russia would assist Kim in developing satellites. “The DPRK leader is interested in rocket engineering and space development.”

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is North Korea’s official name.

Kim said at the start of the meeting with Putin that the North will continue strengthening its relations with Russia.

“I find it an honor that the president has prepared an opportunity to meet at the launch station, which is the heart of your position as a space superpower and has given us a deep understanding of the way forward,” Kim added.

Kim also assured Putin of his support in Moscow’s “sacred fight” “against the hegemonic forces.”

“We will always support the decisions of President Putin and the Russian leadership… and we will be together in the fight against imperialism,” Kim said to Putin via an interpreter.
Washington and its allies are watching the meeting between the presidents of the two increasingly isolated nations, who may swap weaponry and defense technologies.

U.S. and South Korean officials worry that Kim would provide Russia with weapons and ammunition, which has depleted its stockpiles in 18 months of fighting in Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang refute these plans.

North Korea had failed to launch surveillance satellites twice in the last four months, so meeting at Vostochny Cosmodrome, a symbol of Russia’s space strength, was noteworthy.

“I am glad to see you,” Putin said as he greeted him at Vostochny Cosmodrome, a sophisticated space launch site in the Russian Far East’s Amur region. “Our new cosmodrome.”

Kim prioritizes launching a spy satellite as he pushes his nuclear-armed nation to build ballistic missiles, drones, and attack submarines.

Kim signed the Korean guest book before meeting Putin: “The glory to Russia, which gave birth to the first space conquerors, will be immortal.”

Putin toured the site with Kim on T.V. Russian state television said that Kim asked Putin several specific questions.

According to Russian media, Putin toured the Angara rocket assembly plant with Kim. The 42.7-meter launcher sends payloads to low Earth orbit.

LAUNCHED IN KIM’S ABSENCE

South Korea’s military and the Japanese government reported North Korea shot two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast hours before the meeting.

Analysts said it was the North’s first launch when Kim was away, showing increasing delegation and improved nuclear and missile control systems.

In his 12 years in power, Kim has only been overseas seven times, all in 2018 and 2019. Two times, he temporarily crossed the inter-Korean border.

To answer if the presidents would discuss weaponry, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the two nations collaborate in “sensitive” sectors that are not public.

Peskov claimed “negotiations” will occur on Tuesday. Russian diplomats may also discuss humanitarian assistance to North Korea and U.N. Security Council resolutions on Pyongyang.

On Wednesday, the North’s official news agency KCNA said that Kim arrived in Russia by private train on Tuesday with senior defense industry and military advisors and stressed the “strategic importance” of their relations.

The presence of Munitions Industrial Department Director Jo Chun Ryong in Kim’s team implied a defense industrial cooperation agenda, observers said.

Military experts said Kim’s artillery rounds from North Korea’s enormous stockpile might temporarily refill Russia’s capabilities, but quality concerns may restrict the effect.

South Korea and the U.S. have cautioned that such a pact would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions, which Russia voted to approve as a permanent member.

North Korea is one of the few nations to publicly back Russia over Ukraine, and Putin committed last week to “expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts.”