North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has arrived in Russia aboard his armoured train for a rare summit with President Vladimir Putin, amid Western concerns that Pyongyang may supply arms for the war in Ukraine. The train reached Khasan station, the main rail gateway from North Korea to Russia's far east, where Kim was met by Russian Environment Minister Alexander Kozlov before continuing his journey northwards.
The meeting between the two leaders could take place on Wednesday at the Vostochny cosmodrome in the remote Amur region, where Putin is scheduled to visit. The space base would provide a secure and symbolic venue for the isolated leaders to discuss potential cooperation in military and aerospace fields. However, neither the venue nor the timing has been officially confirmed.
The United States has warned that any arms deal between Russia and North Korea would violate UN sanctions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed such warnings, stating that Moscow prioritises its interests with neighbours over Washington's concerns. He said the leaders would hold negotiations between delegations and possibly one-on-one talks, but no press conference is planned.
Kim is accompanied by senior government and military officials, including his foreign minister Choe Son-hui and Jo Chun-ryong, head of the munitions industry department. Experts say Jo's presence indicates a likely agreement on munitions purchases. North Korea may seek food and energy aid, as well as advanced technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines, in return for supplying artillery and ammunition to Russia.
This is Kim's first foreign trip in over four years and since the Covid-19 pandemic. The summit comes as Russia faces ammunition shortages due to heavy losses in Ukraine, while North Korea has suffered several failed satellite launches and may seek Russian assistance to enhance its space capabilities.
