North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a Russian military aviation factory on Friday following his summit with President Vladimir Putin, as the two countries ostracized by the West seek deeper ties.
Historic allies Russia and North Korea are both under rafts of global sanctions—Moscow for its Ukraine conflict, Pyongyang for its nuclear tests—with Kim’s rare foreign visit sparking concern from Kyiv’s allies over a possible arms deal.
Putin, who has sought to strengthen alliances with other leaders shunned in Western capitals, met Kim on Wednesday at a spaceport in Russia’s far east.
Russia is interested in purchasing North Korean munitions to use in Ukraine, according to US officials and analysts, while Pyongyang wants Moscow’s assistance in developing its missile program.
Putin told reporters after their meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome that he saw “possibilities” for military cooperation. Kim toured military and commercial aircraft facilities on Friday at Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a major center for Russian engineering, according to a statement from Moscow.
According to the statement, Kim witnessed the Sukhoi Su-35 and Su-57 fighter aircraft’s manufacturing as well as a Su-35 demonstration flight.
Following his tour of the plants with Kim, Denis Manturov, the deputy prime minister of Russia, remarked, “We see the potential for cooperation both in the field of aircraft manufacturing and in other industries.”
The trade and industry minister added, “This is especially important for achieving the tasks facing our countries to achieve technological sovereignty.”
The West has cautioned Moscow and Pyongyang against signing an arms deal that would violate international sanctions.
JOIN US ON WHAT'SAPP, TO GET INSTANT STATUS UPDATES AND BE IN THE KNOW.
CLICK HERE
