Jake Smith on September 5, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could meet in the coming weeks for a weapons discussion as the two foreign nations strengthen their relationship, The New York Times reported Monday.
Kim plans to travel to Vladivostok to discuss potentially supplying Russia with weaponry and other military resources in the country’s war against Ukraine, American and allied officials told the NYT. Russia and North Korea have recently increased cooperation and swapped letters about a weapons transfer for Russia’s war effort.
“We have information that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “We urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia.”
Putin reportedly wants Kim to supply Russia with antitank missiles and artillery shells, while Kim is requesting that Russia supply North Korea with food provisions, satellite technology and nuclear-powered submarines, according to the NYT. North Korea recently failed to launch a spy satellite into orbit for the second time, and vowed to try again in October.
The leaders would meet during the Eastern Economic Forum taking place at the campus of Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok from Sept. 10 through Sept. 13, according to the NYT. Kim would also travel to Russia’s Pacific fleet naval docks.
The White House recently announced that Russia and North Korea have been swapping letters about the war in Ukraine and Putin’s bid to acquire weapons for Russia’s offensive measures. Any weapons transfer between Moscow and Pyongyang would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions, the State Department spokesperson told the DCNF.
“We urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia. And we are taking action directly by exposing and sanctioning individuals and entities working to facilitate arms deals between Russia and the DPRK,” the spokesperson said.
Kim promised “full support and solidarity” to Putin in June.
The National Security Council and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include a statement from a State Department spokesperson.
