Putin Visits North Korea for Summit with Kim Jong Un

On Wednesday, June 19th, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea for a summit with Kim Jong Un. This visit marks their third meeting, emphasizing the growing alliance between the two nations. The two leaders first met in Vladivostok in April 2019, followed by a meeting at Russia’s main space launch site in September 2023. During the latter meeting, Kim invited Putin to visit North Korea at a “convenient time,” and Putin accepted the invitation with this current trip being the first time he has visited North Korea in 24 years.

The summit comes amid increased military and economic cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Reports suggest that North Korea has supplied Russia with artillery, missiles, and other conventional weapons to support its war in Ukraine. In return, Russia has provided North Korea with advanced military technologies and economic aid. Both countries have denied allegations of arms transfers, which would violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Kim Jong Un has been pushing to strengthen partnerships with Russia and China to bolster his regional standing and present a united front against the United States. The upcoming summit is expected to further solidify the strategic alliance between North Korea and Russia, particularly in the military and space technology sectors. North Korea is believed to be seeking assistance with space technology following its recent failure to launch a second spy satellite.

Regarding their relationship, Putin said that both nations would “resolutely oppose Western ambitions to hinder the establishment of a multipolar world order based on justice [and] mutual respect for sovereignty.” Diplomatic sources indicate that Putin may also visit Vietnam during his trip to Asia. The visit underscores the geopolitical dynamics as both Russia and North Korea face separate confrontations with the United States—Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and North Korea over its advancing nuclear program.

In a message to Putin on Russia’s National Day, Kim highlighted the significance of their relationship, stating that the ties between North Korea and Russia have developed into an “unbreakable relationship of comrades-in-arms.” 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on Putin’s visit to North Korea, saying that Russia is trying “in desperation, to develop and to strengthen relations with countries that can provide it with what it needs to continue the war of aggression that it started against Ukraine.”