In their meeting, both presidents discussed military issues, the war in Ukraine and possible Russian aid to the satellite program.
Moscow/Seoul. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met yesterday at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia.
Putin showed Kim the most advanced Russian space rocket launch facilities, located in the Russian Far East, and discussed the possibility of sending a North Korean cosmonaut into space. Kim, who arrived in the country by train from North Korea.
After the visit, Putin, 70, and Kim, 39, held talks for several hours with their ministers and then discussed world affairs and possible areas of cooperation face to face, followed by an opulent lunch of Russian dumplings.” pelmeni” made with Kamchatka crab and then sturgeon with mushrooms and potatoes.
Kim toasted Putin’s health, the victory of “great Russia” and Korean-Russian friendship with a glass of Russian wine, predicting Russia’s victory in its “sacred struggle” with the West in the Ukrainian war.
Toast
“I firmly believe that the heroic Russian army and people will brilliantly inherit its victories and traditions and vigorously demonstrate its noble dignity and honor on the two fronts of military operations and building a powerful nation,” Kim told Putin.
“The Russian army and people will undoubtedly win a great victory in the sacred struggle for the punishment of a great evil that seeks hegemony and fuels an expansionist illusion,” Kim added, raising his glass.
U.S. and South Korean officials have expressed concern about Kim providing weapons and ammunition to Russia.
Putin gave numerous hints that military cooperation was discussed, but revealed few details. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attended the talks and the Kremlin said they discussed sensitive issues that are not for public discussion.
Asked by Russian media whether Russia would help Kim build satellites, Putin responded: “That’s why we came.”
For Russia, the summit was an opportunity to embarrass the United States, the great power that supports Ukraine.
