Kim Jong Un’s Visit to Putin Amidst North Korea’s Firing of 2 Ballistic Missiles Towards Eastern Seas

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards its eastern seas on Wednesday, according to neighboring countries.

The missile launch occurred while North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was in Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. There are international concerns that the meeting could lead to an arms deal that would support Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles were detected being fired approximately 10 minutes apart from an area in Sunan, which is also the location of Pyongyang’s international airport. The missiles traveled across the country and landed in the eastern seas. The exact distance traveled by the missiles has not been disclosed.

NORTH KOREA’S KIM JONG UN ARRIVES IN RUSSIA AHEAD OF MEETING WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN

A photo displaying North Korea’s missile launch at the Unification Observation Post in Paju, South Korea, on September 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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Japan’s Coast Guard, based on information from Tokyo’s Defense Ministry, stated that the missile likely landed, but cautioned vessels near the Japanese coast to watch for falling objects.

Kim has been leveraging the international distraction caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine to advance North Korea’s weapons development. This has included more than 100 missile launches since the beginning of 2022.

U.S. officials suggest that Putin may use his meeting with Kim to secure additional supplies of North Korean artillery and ammunition, which would replenish dwindling reserves and prolong the invasion of Ukraine. Experts speculate that Kim, in return, may request much-needed economic aid and advanced weapons technologies to support his nuclear weapons and missile programs.