North Korea shows latest weapons advances to Russian Defense Minister
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, held a meeting with the Russian Defense Minister, Seguéi Shoigu, in Pyongyang to discuss issues of “mutual interest” on regional and global security, according to the state agency of the Asian country, KCNA.
“The two sides exchanged views and assessments on issues of mutual interest in the fields of national security and defense and the regional and international security environment, while reviewing the history of deep friendship between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( official name of North Korea) and Russia,” KCNA reported.
Kim and Shoigu, who heads a Russian military delegation invited to witness the events for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War (1950-53) in Pyongyang, also visited the “Arsenal Exhibition 2023”, in which they saw the latest North Korean weapons advances, from intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) to drones, according to photos and information published Thursday by the main North Korean newspaper, Rodong.
The Russian delegation, together with a Chinese entourage, are in North Korea to join the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War (1950-53), for which Pyongyang is expected to host a large military parade in the that the North Korean regime will display its latest weapons advances.
Few details of the meeting
KCNA did not reveal many more details of the meeting, in which it is believed that Kim and Shoigu were able to talk about the growing bitterness between blocs made up of autarchies such as Russia, China or North Korea and democracies such as the United States, the European Union (EU) and regional actors such as South Korea, Japan or Australia, especially after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Nor is it mentioned whether both parties discussed the current state of Russian arsenals and possible supplies of weapons and ammunition by North Korea, something that would be a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and of which the West has accused. on several occasions to Pyongyang.
The information from the North Korean agency adds that the two parties pledged to “strengthen and develop the long-term and strategic relationship” between the two countries, to strengthen the security and defense relationship, and to “respond to the rapid changes in the regional security environment.” and international”.
In addition to exchanging gifts, Shoigu presented Kim with a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A more open twist
The Russian delegation arrived in Pyongyang last Tuesday, in what marks the first entry of a foreign group into North Korea since the country activated a rigid border policy in early 2020 to prevent the entry of covid-19.
The closure has been so excessive that for the past three years North Korean workers and diplomats abroad have been unable to return home.
The decision to invite these delegations underlines the current closeness of Pyongyang – which has been refusing to dialogue with Seoul and Washington for years – with Beijing and Moscow, and points to a possible more open turn by the regime on border matters.