Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed her strong opposition to a potential meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing it as a “huge mistake.” In an interview with CBS “Face the Nation” anchor Margaret Brennan, Harris emphasized the negative consequences of such a meeting.
According to Harris, Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine and its potential ammunition supply to North Korea would only lead to predictable outcomes. She also believes that the meeting would further isolate both Russia and North Korea.
Last week, a U.S. official revealed that Kim Jong Un expects to visit Russia and meet with Putin within the month. Harris reiterated the United States’ commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, while emphasizing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine as a violation of international rules and norms regarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Harris characterized the meeting as an act of desperation for Russia and a grave mistake for North Korea.
An Associated Press report stated that the exact location and date of the meeting are uncertain, but the Pacific port city of Vladivostok is a likely choice due to its proximity to North Korea.
Kim and Putin are both scheduled to attend the Eastern Economic Forum at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok from September 10-13, although it remains unclear if this is when their meeting will take place.
According to U.S. officials, Russia is seeking to replenish its ammunition reserves depleted by the war in Ukraine by purchasing ammunition from North Korea. In exchange, North Korea would likely request food and energy shipments, as well as transfers of advanced weapons technologies. Previous suspicions of North Korea providing ammunition to Russia have fueled ongoing concerns about deepening cooperation between the two countries.
If the meeting occurs, it will be Kim Jong Un’s first summit with a foreign leader since North Korea closed its borders in January 2020.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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