Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit North Korea this week, where he is expected to discuss the most “important and sensitive” issues with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
As reported by the Kremlin, Putin’s visit will begin this Tuesday (18) and should last until Wednesday (19). Putin’s last trip to North Korea was in July 2000, during the dictatorship of Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un’s father.
“At the invitation of Chairman of State Affairs Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin will make a friendly state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on June 18 and 19,” the Kremlin said, according to information from Reuters.
The Russian regime announced that talks between the two dictators will address the “most important and sensitive” issues with the expectation of in-depth negotiations and the participation of other members of the delegations.
“Informal contacts between the two leaders will take considerable time, as the most important and sensitive issues will be addressed during these negotiations, which may include the participation of other members of the delegations,” said Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin’s international advisor.
The meeting between Putin and Kim will include private meetings in different formats, with the presence of prominent figures from the Russian dictatorship, such as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the new Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.
“Relations between Russia and North Korea are friendly and neighborly in nature. It is clear that they have developed very actively in recent years,” said Ushakov, citing the strong rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang.
At the meeting, both regimes plan to sign a new strategic partnership agreement, which will replace the previous ones.
Topics such as energy, economy, transport, agriculture and security will also be discussed at this meeting. According to information, trade exchanges between Russia and North Korea grew significantly, reaching US$34.4 billion in 2023.
Currently, both countries share similar views on foreign policy issues.
The United States, in turn, expressed concern about the deepening of relations between Russia and North Korea. The White House fears that Putin’s visit to Pyongyang could impact security on the Korean peninsula and the situation in Ukraine, where North Korean ballistic missiles have been used in attacks.
“We are not concerned about the trip, but we are concerned about the deepening of relations between these two countries,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a news conference.
Kim Jong-un, who has been one of the Kremlin’s main supporters in the war with Ukraine. (With EFE Agency)
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