NEWS
Should the world be ‘Worried’? Putin meets Kim Jong Un
President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un meeting face to face to build diplomatic ties between Russia and North Korea is a sight many do not want to see, and now, it appears it will be a reoccurring sight in the days moving forward.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened on Tuesday, September 12th, at Russia’s expansive Vostochny space launch site, setting the stage for anticipated discussions on arms-related matters.
In response to a reporter’s inquiry about whether Russia would assist North Korea in launching its satellites and rockets, Putin’s reply was unequivocal:
“That’s exactly why we came here.”
Putin elaborated on North Korea’s keen interest in space exploration and rocket technology, emphasizing their efforts to develop their space program.
He stated,
“The leader of North Korea shows great interest in space, in rocketry, and they are trying to develop space. We’ll show our new objects.”
The meeting took place at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, situated in Russia’s far east, and was accompanied by Putin’s assertion that the discussions would be comprehensive and unhurried.
“We’ll talk about all the issues without haste; there is time,” Putin added.
Putin’s remarks hint at the possibility of strengthened ties between Russia and North Korea.
This has raised concerns among U.S. officials who have cautioned that such cooperation could potentially involve Pyongyang supplying weapons for Moscow’s use in its ongoing Ukraine conflict.
According to concerns this could be justified over fears that an exchange for access to sanctioned ballistic missile technology could come off the meeting.
A video released by the Kremlin on Wednesday depicted the two leaders shaking hands before embarking on a tour of the space center and the adjacent rocket complex.
The latter is where launch vehicles are assembled and undergo testing, as reported by Russian state media.
During their tour, Putin and Kim Jong Un visited the facilities dedicated to Russia’s upcoming generation of spacecraft.
These facilities are specifically designed to receive launch vehicles, conduct pre-launch preparations, oversee launches, and manage post-launch operations, according to state news agency TASS.
The meeting between Putin and Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny space launch site has garnered significant attention.
The international community are closely monitoring the developments and outcomes of their discussions, particularly in the context of global security and diplomacy, especially with the ongoing war against Ukraine.
https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1701819967597850904?s=20